Drug traffickers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, equipping themselves with fast-moving vessels, and even submarines to transport illegal substances. According to Minister of National Security and Justice, K. D. Knight, these criminals have refined their methods, making it difficult for local law enforcement to keep up.  

Published March 11, 1998

Shiprider takes effect
 

-US, Jamaica in fight against maritime drug trafficking

THE ACCORD on co-operation between Jamaica and The United States in the fight against maritime drug trafficking, popularly known as the "Shiprider" agreement, officially came into force, yesterday. 
This means that United States Coast Guard vessels and aircraft can now legally enter Jamaica's territorial waters to intercept ships, boats, and planes suspected of transporting drugs to or from the island. 
An exchange of instruments bringing into force the Jamaica/US agreement was made between Jamaica's minister of national security and justice, K. D. Knight, and United States ambassador to Jamaica, Stanley McLelland yesterday morning. 
Knight, speaking at the brief function at his Ocean Boulevard, downtown Kingston offices, said the entry into force of the agreement could not have come at a better time.
Reports
"As you are all aware from media reports, as well as reports from the security forces, drug trafficking vessels from a particular South American state have been delivering cocaine at a number of points on Jamaica's coastline, a phenomenon that our Coast Guard has not been able to keep up with, due mainly to our inability to provide adequate vessels," Knight said. 
According to the minister, the joint operations that will arise from the agreement are expected to result in greater policing of the waters around Jamaica, leading to the apprehension of a number of drug-trafficking vessels, which will eventually reduce the threats, such activities pose to Jamaica and other countries. 
Knight said Caribbean states have, for the past 20 years or so, become targets for the drug cartels of South America.
"More and more, we have become aware of incidents of air and sea drops at pre-arranged targets, where the drugs can be picked up by their local criminal partners," he said.
To compound the problem, Knight said, traffickers have equipped themselves with fast-moving vessels and even submarines. 
Inability
He said it was the inability of Caribbean countries to tackle the problem of illegal drug trafficking that caused these countries to forge an alliance with the United States.
Jamaica signed an accord with the United States in May 1997. 
However, it could not be brought into force until domestic legislation to give effect to the agreement was passed by Parliament. The Maritime Drug Trafficking (Suppression) Act, which gives effect to the accord, was passed by Parliament in February.  
The agreement will be reciprocal in all areas and will essentially allow law-enforcement officers of either party to conduct operations for the prevention, detection, and suppression of drug trafficking in each other’s territorial waters. 
Law enforcement officials will carry out searches, seizures, detentions, and enforcement in accordance with the laws of the state on whose waters the activity is taking place.
Knight reiterated that the agreement also provides for the overflight of territory and waters of one party by the other in order to pursue a vessel or aircraft fleeing into or located within its waters or airspace. 
However, these activities will only be possible through approvals from the central authorities and compliance with all air navigation and flight safety directions of the party within whose airspace the overflight is taking place. 
The legislation provides for Jamaica's central authority, vested in the minister of national security and justice, to delegate the responsibility. Knight said such responsibility will be delegated to the officer in charge of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Coast Guard through the chief of staff of the JDF.

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