“Counter narcotics efforts are undermined by inadequate resources for law enforcement,Adrian Wilson Cardinals Jersey, poor coordination among law enforcement agencies, an inefficient judiciary, and a colonial-era legal system badly in need of modernization”More than two years after launching its National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) for 2005-2009, Guyana has not effectively implemented it, and remains a transit point for cocaine destined for North America, Europe,Cheap Jerseys From China, and the Caribbean.This is according to International Narcotics Control Strategy Report for 2008 released by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The report notes that seizures in Guyana for 2007 were three times higher than for the previous year.The increased seizure was, however, attributed to the improved counter narcotics measures at the working level and the quantities not being sufficient to impact the U.S. market.To its credit, the Guyana Government was lauded for laying the groundwork for an enhanced security sector by agreeing to a reform programme sponsored by the British Government. It also arrested Terrence Sugrim, an accused drug trafficker wanted by the U.S., and initiated the extradition process. Sugrim, called Segrim, was subsequently released on bail.The report noted that there are no reliable estimates regarding the amounts of cocaine or cannabis that transit Guyana, but US law enforcement authorities contend that Guyanese narcotics traffickers regularly move shipments of cocaine through the country. Drugs flow easily through Guyana’s uncontrolled borders and coastline.Light aircraft land at numerous isolated airstrips, or make airdrops where operatives on the ground retrieve the drugs. Smugglers use small boats and freighters to enter Guyana’s many remote but navigable rivers.Within the last four years two illegal airstrips have been discovered and destroyed by local law enforcement agents, while a small airplane disappeared from the Kayman Sankar airfield, which is rarely used officially.However, residents in the surrounding areas testify to the regular usage of the airport.The report also noted that smugglers also take direct routes, such as driving or boating across the borders with Brazil, Suriname, and Venezuela.Inside the country, narcotics are reportedly transported to Georgetown by road, water or air, and then sent on to the Caribbean, North America,Authentic NFL Jerseys Wholesale, or Europe via commercial air carriers or cargo ships.Local authorities on several occasions arrested drug mules attempting to smuggle small amounts of cocaine on virtually every northbound route out of the international airport.One such mule was former Miss Guyana Universe,http://www.airmaxfantasy.us.com/1600-New-Balance/, Mia Rahaman, who was nabbed in Canada with cocaine stored in a variety of cosmetics containers.In 2007, there was a surge in law enforcement seizures of suitcases carrying drugs at the international airport. These had been added to the baggage queue after check-in, and tagged in the names of unsuspecting passengers.There was also a notable upward trend in the use of the Guyana Post Office as an avenue for the trafficking of cocaine in small quantities, further demonstrating the malleable tactics of trafficking organizations.To a lesser extent, Guyana was also labelled a trans-shipment point for marijuana.Notable as it relates to Guyana over the weekend, law enforcement ranks destroyed marijuana plants estimated at millions of dollars.“Guyana produces high-grade cannabis, and is not known to produce, trade, or transit precursor chemicals on a large scale.”A very high-grade form of cannabis is, however, cultivated in Guyana, primarily in the intermediate savannahs, and its cultivation is reportedly increasing. In 2007, Guyanese authorities eradicated 15,280 kilogrammes of cannabis.Marijuana is sold and consumed openly in Guyana, despite frequent arrests for possessing small amounts of cannabis.Marijuana use has been observed among children as young as eleven years old.“Guyana’s ability to deal with drug abusers is hampered by the modest financial resources to support rehabilitation programmes…Guyana only has two facilities that treat substance abuse—the Salvation Army and the Phoenix Recovery Centre. There are no programs to deal with substance abuse in the prisons.”According to the report, Guyana’s vast expanse of unpopulated forest and savannahs offers ample cover for drug traffickers and smugglers, and counter narcotics efforts are undermined by inadequate resources for law enforcement, poor coordination among law enforcement agencies, an inefficient judiciary, and a colonial-era legal system badly in need of modernisation.Pic: One of the recent seizures of a quantity of cocaine which was in