On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at the Hyatt Trinidad, the Ministry of National Security, in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (ES-CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS), held the opening ceremony of the Meeting of the Group of Experts on Maritime Drug Trafficking.

Delegations from approximately fifteen OAS Member States are participating in the meeting, which is taking place in Trinidad from September 10 to 12, 2024.

Haiti is represented by Karl-Henry Périclès, Coordinator of the National Commission for the Fight against Drugs (CONALD).

The Group's meeting aims to provide a forum for the exchange of best practices on the control of maritime and river drug trafficking in OAS Member States. It also aims to foster inter-institutional, regional and international cooperation.

Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds at the opening ceremony said that the "Government of Trinidad and Tobago has responded to these maritime drug trafficking challenges with a multi-dimensional approach, with a focus on strengthening maritime security, improving law enforcement capabilities, and promoting regional and international cooperation.

However, we recognize that we cannot fight this problem alone. Regional and international cooperation is essential if we are to dismantle the complex and well-funded criminal networks behind maritime drug trafficking. This gathering of experts provides an important forum for sharing intelligence, best practices, and innovative approaches to addressing the problem."

HL/ HaitiLibre