Counternarcotics and Law Enforcement Country Program: Jamaica

Challenges

Jamaica is a major transit point for South American cocaine en route to the United States and also the largest Caribbean producer and exporter of cannabis. Jamaica’s 638 mile coastline, over 110 unmonitored airstrips, and a lack of regulations make it a major transit country and therefore extremely vulnerable to drug trafficking. The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) operates under severe resource constraints, with over sixty percent of its national budget going to debt servicing.

The GOJ has maintained existing counternarcotics law enforcement and interdiction programs and took several steps to strengthen its counternarcotics law enforcement capability. The U.S. will continue to provide technical assistance and training to assist the GOJ to improve its drug interdiction, cannabis eradication, and demand reduction efforts. The U.S. will also work closely with the police and public prosecutors to enhance the GOJ’s ability to identify, investigate, and successfully prosecute significant drug traffickers.

Maritime Interdiction: This project supports the U.S.-Jamaica maritime counternarcotics cooperation agreement by strengthening the GOJ’s ability to successfully interdict vessels transporting drugs. The U.S. has provided three go-fast interceptor boats to the Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard (JDFCG). Additional funding will be used for training and equipment to establish a vessel maintenance program and continued support for GOJ efforts to establish forward positioning sites that will enable the rapid deployment of boats for maritime drug interdiction operations.

Port Security: This project is designed to improve the GOJ’s capability to disrupt the movement of drugs and other contraband via commercial cargo and conveyances at air and seaports and free trade zones. U.S. funds will be used to train and equip newly-hired Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) personnel, purchasing of CET equipment and support the multi-agency airport interdiction task force to be set up by the GOJ.

Narcotics Law Enforcement: This project is designed to strengthen the GOJ’s capability to identify, investigate, and prosecute drug traffickers, money launderers and other international criminals and dismantle their criminal organizations. Requested funding will be used for equipment, training, operational support and replacement vehicles for the JCF’s special vetted unit, JFAT, Narcotics Division and National Intelligence Bureau.

Drug Awareness/Demand Reduction: The INL program also provides limited assistance for demand reduction activities, the majority of which are supported by the GOJ, NGOs, and other donors.