By Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The seaports of Trinidad and Tobago are now said to be major entry or transhipment points for the trafficking of large quantities of illegal drugs.

The findings are contained in a 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy report by the US State Department.

The report has highlighted the urgent need for the Trinidad and Tobago government to institute greater surveillance systems for scanning cargo, containers and small and large seacraft at all ports of entry.

Cocaine and marijuana as well as other types of drugs are said to be among the list which find a way into or through the country bound for the US, Europe or other islands in the region. 

The report also stated that there continues to be an increase in the illegal trade, which involves over one hundred countries across the world.

"The majority of the cocaine that arrives on Trinidad is via commercial vessels, sailing vessels and small fishing vessels, in amounts upwards of several thousand-kilogramme quantities," the report said. It goes on to describe Trinidad and Tobago as a "Transshipment Country" for heroin and cocaine.

The report further adds that the trade is largely organised by Colombian trafficking and organised-crime groups operating in Venezuela, Columbia and in Trinidad and Tobago.

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning. AFP PHOTO

This report comes in the wake of repeated statements by Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, who says the drug trade is the major cause of rising crime not only in Trinidad and Tobago but in other islands of the region.

At a recent Caricom heads meeting he made the call for all Caricom member states to work together in battling the illegal trade. It was also said that this, as well as border security, were two major issues affecting countries in the hemisphere.

The 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy report said the government of Trinidad and Tobago seized some167 kilogrammes of cocaine and 3,792 kgs of cannabis in various forms in 2007.

Also, 148 eradication exercises destroying 162,210 marijuana trees, 15,500 seedlings and 194 kilogrammes of cured marijuana, were said to be part of police anti drug operations in the same year.