New initiative to stem drug flow from Caribbean

Date: 16/05/1996

By Rory Watson

THE EU is working with the United Nations to try to strangle the increasing flow of drugs from the Caribbean.

Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Anita Gradin, together with governments in the region, is exploring ways of preventing the islands from being developed as a powerful launching pad for drugs to the northern hemisphere.

“This is all part of the transatlantic dialogue and the international contacts we are developing in our fight against drugs, which is one of the Union's main priorities,” said Gradin before leaving for this week's UN conference on drugs in Barbados.

The initiative comes as Ireland is making it clear that the fight against drugs will be a top priority when it begins its six-month term at the helm of the Union on 1 July.

Dublin this week announced plans to present a special report designed to promote a coordinated attack on the problem to the December summit of Union leaders.

EU justice and home affairs ministers will have their own opportunity to help shape the emerging strategy for the Caribbean when they meet on 4 and 5 June.

Experts estimate that between 20 and 40&percent; of the cocaine entering North America and Europe comes from Columbia via the Caribbean. A growing illegal trade in heroin is also being uncovered.

The EU already finances various projects in the area to reduce drug dependency and encourage regional research and training programmes. But the growth in Caribbean-related drugs has convinced several member states that a stronger strategy is needed.

The lead was taken late last year by France and the UK, both increasingly concerned at the threat which the narcotics business poses to the islands' social and economic stability.

The French have three overseas départements in the area and the British six dependencies.

The initiative was soon taken up by the Dutch, equally worried about the possible impact on their two associate states of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, and endorsed at last December's European summit in Madrid.

The Union and the UN are looking to encourage greater cooperation among countries in the area to prevent drug traffickers from playing the 29 different jurisdictions off against each other.

Efforts are also being made to establish a closer partnership between the Caribbean and the EU and to develop a more efficient network of patrols in the area.