NewsWhore
07-15-2011, 03:40 PM
There are no convictions in 90% of the drug cases in the Central American and Caribbean region, said President Leonel Fernandez during the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) Forum "Integration, Citizen Safety and Regional Development" taking place in Santo Domingo this week.
President Fernandez highlighted the global nature of drug trafficking by organized criminal networks and called for global combating of the crime with the integration of affected nations.
Fernandez highlighted the way that drug trafficking networks transact more than 400 billion dollars a year. He said that the strength of the cartels is due in part to the weakness of states in combating drug trafficking.
On the home front, Fernandez said this situation of relative impunity undermines the confidence Dominicans have in the security and judicial authorities' commitment to combating international narcotics trafficking. Speaking at the forum, the President said that the 14,000 police agents in the DR receive low wages which makes them vulnerable to drug traffickers. He said that Law 50-88 was drawn up to fight macro-trafficking, but not micro-trafficking.
Fernandez said donations to the DR from the US for fighting organized crime were minimal at US$15 million compared to US$1.2 billion for Mexico or US$7 billion for Colombia. He said he would prefer soft loans so the country could equip itself with speedboats and radars to fight against crime and drug transshipment from Haiti. Fernandez said that while the recently purchased Tucano jets have been effective in controlling airspace, sea and land operations continue.
Acento.com.do reported that in the past 18 months alone more than 130 military and police anti-drug agents who were posted at leading airports have been arrested and sent to justice for involvement in drug transshipment operations intercepted at airports. These military personnel provided support for the drug networks in their shipments to the United States and Europe, taking advantage of their authorized access, mainly in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santiago airports.
Commenting on the President's words, El Caribe said that in-depth reforms are needed in the systems and security corps, investigative bodies, the prosecutor general office and judicial structure.
www.elcaribe.com.do/site/opinion.html (http://www.elcaribe.com.do/site/opinion.html)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)
President Fernandez highlighted the global nature of drug trafficking by organized criminal networks and called for global combating of the crime with the integration of affected nations.
Fernandez highlighted the way that drug trafficking networks transact more than 400 billion dollars a year. He said that the strength of the cartels is due in part to the weakness of states in combating drug trafficking.
On the home front, Fernandez said this situation of relative impunity undermines the confidence Dominicans have in the security and judicial authorities' commitment to combating international narcotics trafficking. Speaking at the forum, the President said that the 14,000 police agents in the DR receive low wages which makes them vulnerable to drug traffickers. He said that Law 50-88 was drawn up to fight macro-trafficking, but not micro-trafficking.
Fernandez said donations to the DR from the US for fighting organized crime were minimal at US$15 million compared to US$1.2 billion for Mexico or US$7 billion for Colombia. He said he would prefer soft loans so the country could equip itself with speedboats and radars to fight against crime and drug transshipment from Haiti. Fernandez said that while the recently purchased Tucano jets have been effective in controlling airspace, sea and land operations continue.
Acento.com.do reported that in the past 18 months alone more than 130 military and police anti-drug agents who were posted at leading airports have been arrested and sent to justice for involvement in drug transshipment operations intercepted at airports. These military personnel provided support for the drug networks in their shipments to the United States and Europe, taking advantage of their authorized access, mainly in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santiago airports.
Commenting on the President's words, El Caribe said that in-depth reforms are needed in the systems and security corps, investigative bodies, the prosecutor general office and judicial structure.
www.elcaribe.com.do/site/opinion.html (http://www.elcaribe.com.do/site/opinion.html)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)