The proposal was accepted by the 53 member Commission. The 25-room Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre was opened in September 1996. We felt, and still believe that in order to successfully deal with the problem of drug trafficking in our region, our law enforcement officers must be kept abreast of the new trends in trade as well as the drug interdiction strategies being used internationally. Since the launch of the centre which serves the 18 English-speaking countries of the Caribbean, some 24 courses and 12 seminars have been held over 1,250 law enforcement officers from the region have been trained in a wide range of areas relating to drug interdiction. In addition to those subject areas, courses are also held in ethics.
Lets face it, the drug trade is a multi-billion dollar business worldwide, and officers are exposed.
The institution has also convened short seminars in asset forfeiture, narcotics investigations, port security, resort patrol, epidemiology and biostatistics, process and methods of death certificates, addiction studies, ID and treatment, among others. The Principal points out that the institution plans to introduce a basic drug law enforcement course for all new recruits to the police force, and that a curriculum will be developed for this purpose. Training at the Centre, is on par with other such institutions around the world. It has 19 chapters with detailed information on topics such as drug trends in the region, work and co-operation with other agencies, surveillance tactics, interview techniques, precursors, search techniques, air and seaport interdiction, drug profit and confiscation issues, among other things. The Manual will be formally launched shortly.