![\"\"](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/dno\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/ganja-1.jpg\" "\\"ganja")
Despite Dominica’s best efforts the international drug trade continues to have a negative impact on the island the US Department of State 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report has revealed.<\/p>\nDespite Dominica’s best efforts the international drug trade continues to have a negative impact on the island the US Department of State 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report has revealed.<\/p>\n
Of concern is the large scale cultivation of marijuana on the island for local consumption and for international trafficking. \u201cIt is estimated that approximately 210 acres are grown annually and the rugged terrain poses a major challenge to enforcement activities and efforts to assess crop sizes,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n
The report point out to the large amount of cocaine being transited in Dominica from countries such as Venezuela. \u201cThe Dominica Police Force (DPF) estimates that 100-200 kilograms of cocaine are transited to Dominica from Venezuela each week,\u201d the report said. \u201cAccording to the DPF, this represents an increase in cocaine transiting the island.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report said that although the authorities are committed to combating criminal elements within the island\u2019s borders, limited resources \u201cprevent officials from consistent interdiction of drugs destined to the US and European markets\u201d.<\/p>\n
But all is not bad because the report stated in 2009 Dominica added a new vessel to its fleet to counter maritime narcotics activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cClose relations continue to exist between local and regional law enforcement agencies to further assist in patrolling international waters. Dominican authorities are grateful for US assistance in training intelligence, but request more logistical support. In 2009, the USCG provided four small boat engineering and maintenance mobile training teams to Dominica,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n
It also showcased Dominica\u2019s cooperation in combating international drug trafficking by highlighting an incident in which the US government seized a Dominica flagged vessel under a bilateral agreement between the two countries. \u201cThe vessel was boarded under the bilateral agreement and was found to be smuggling over 350lbs of marijuana. Three smugglers were also removed from the seized vessel for prosecution,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Despite Dominica’s best efforts the international drug trade continues to have a negative impact on the island the US Department of State 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report has revealed. Of concern is the large scale cultivation of marijuana on…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":29465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime-court-law"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n