Venezuelan government officials under drug trafficking investigation

High-ranking Venezuelan government officials are under investigation by US authorities suspected of playing a key role in a drug trafficking and money laundering criminal network. Three federal indictments opened window onto accusations of ties between Venezuelan military and law enforcement officers and Colombian narcotics traffickers, a connection that officials in Washington have long warned about…

AIRCOP cocaine seizures in Caribbean and Central America on the increase

Since stepping up activities in the Westerm hemisphere this year the Cocaine Route Programme is beginning to impact on trafficking routes. The AIRCOP component, implemented by UNODC in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and INTERPOL, has established Joint Airport Interdiction Task Forces (JAITFs)   at airports in Panama and the Dominican Republic. More JAITFs are…

Kenya’s emerging cocaine market (?)

In the 1990s, Kenya, and particularly the cities along the Swahili coast like Mombasa and Malindi reported spreading heroin use. The switch from unrefined brown heroin which was known as ‘brown sugar’ and smoked, to white powdered heroin precipitated the emergence of injecting practices. Twenty years on the population of regular drug users has spread…

A newly established Canine Unit to enhance drugs detection capacities of AIRCOP Joint Interdiction Task Force of Cabo Verde

On 16 March 2015 a joint UNODC – European Union delegation visited the new Canine Unit of AIRCOP Joint Airport Interdiction Task Force (JAITF) in Praia. The Kennel is situated within the Cabo Verdean Judicial Police Headquarters compound, with whom the Praia JAITF is affiliated, close to the Praia International Airport. The Canine Unit is…

Saint Lucia

Key legal framework UN Conventions ratified 1961 UN Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol 1971 UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime   Organisation of American States Conventions Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance…

Montserrat

Key legal framework UN Conventions ratified 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances   Narcotics laws Drugs Prevention of Misuse Act Drug Trafficking Offences Act Proceeds of Crime Act 2010 Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2013 Montserrat and the Global Illicit Flows Programme SEACOP BENEFICIARY COUNTRY iARMS PARTNER COUNTRY Partner…

Grenada

Key legal framework UN Conventions ratified 1961 UN Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol 1971 UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime UN Convention against Corruption Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and…

Dominica

Key legal framework UN Conventions ratified 1961 UN Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol 1971 UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime UN Convention against Corruption Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and…