By Tracey Khan – Drakes
[www.inewsguyana.com] – United States Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt has announced that the way has been cleared for the office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to be established in Guyana.
At a joint press conference at the Office of the President today between President Donald Ramotar and the US Ambassador, it was revealed that the office will be stationed at the US Embassy in Georgetown.
Ambassador Hardt said they are looking forward to working closely with the Narcotics agencies here to dismantle the drug trade. The equipment for the office are already being shipped to Guyana and personnel have already been identified. He could not give a timeline for operations to begin but said because of the approval by the US Congress, the project will move swiftly.
Meanwhile, President Ramotar welcomed this move that government has been calling for. This he said will strengthen cooperation between the US and Guyana.
The President also said he wants to make Guyana inhospitable to drug traffickers and listed the Anti Money Laundering Bill as another way in doing this.
The DEA will have to vet local agencies and build its collaborations since it will only focus on gathering intelligence and sharing it with law enforcement agencies that will make the necessary arrests and busts.
