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  • 6 weeks ago
As the police destroyed over one billion dollars in narcotics at the Caroni cremation site- ACP Kerywn Francis of the Criminal Division is warning that other synthetic drugs such as Fentanyl are slowing creeping into this country and the police will do whatever is needed to curb that flow.

Mark Bassant has the story.
Transcript
00:00Over $1 billion in narcotics up in flames, as the police sought to send a clear message to drug traffickers
00:07and users alike.
00:09ACP Cohen Francis of the Criminal Division told the media that a recent announcement by the Caribbean Director of the
00:15DEA
00:16that fentanyl and other synthetic drugs could become the next big drug in this area
00:20has left the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service unfazed, as they will do everything to stop that flow into this
00:27country.
00:27So at this point in time, we are currently monitoring our landscape.
00:32We have had some seizures in the past surrounding fentanyl, but we have not seen a large influx of that
00:38drug hitting the market.
00:39But because we have our ongoing monitoring systems, we are keeping a close eye as it develops.
00:45And once there's a need for a greater intervention, we will surely engage the policymakers
00:50so that we can put those legislative mechanisms in place to curb the use of that particular illicit dangerous drug.
00:58ACP Francis said there were some divisions more prone to drug trafficking activities than others.
01:05So all of these borders are prone to traffickers when they want to exploit the systems that are in place
01:13to bring in their dangerous drugs.
01:15So is it the case when you lock down one area, just moves to the other, or is it that
01:18just because it's an island, it is being used?
01:20Well, it all depends on the drug traffickers' preference at the time.
01:24But either way, we do have mechanisms set up in place across these divisions that have been identified as prone.
01:30And we do work closely with the Coast Guard to make sure that we have the patrols out in these
01:34areas to make the interventions when the need arises.
01:37ACP Francis said that several gangs thrive on the drug trafficking trade to make their money from proceeds of crime.
01:43Once there's a need for dangerous drugs by members of the public, the gangs are going to exploit that by
01:50way of selling the dangerous drugs.
01:52And even at times, we have drugs being trans-shipped here to North America and Europe.
01:56So once there's that demand, there will always be a concern for the Trans-Tobago Police Service and other arms
02:02of law enforcement with respect to dangerous drugs.
02:05Mark Bassant, TV6 News.