U.S. officials hold anti-drug trafficking seminar

The efforts of Belize’s law enforcement agencies to increase their ability to stop drug traffickers in their tracks continues over the next two weeks with a series of training courses for immigration, customs and police officials. News Five attended the opening this morning at the Fiesta Inn.

Three senior U.S. customs officials are conducting a seminar on drug trafficking. Into the initial course, which will last five days, the second week will include a training workshop which will help our law enforcement officials to train their own staff.

Bryant McCray, U.S. Customs Inspector

“We are going to be presenting workshops targeting profiling cargo examinations, the examination of containers and so on. Trying to find those containers in those areas which has the greatest potential of bringing in narcotics into one’s country.”

Participants of the seminar strongly feel that what they learn from the seminar will be of great help to them in the future.

Leidiana Nicholson, Forensic Analyst

“This program would be of great need to us. It will allow us to be more knowledgeable about drugs and substances that are introduced to our country illegally and it will allow us to test those drugs. Hopefully it will bring to our knowledge more about how to test them.”

Ernest Smith, Lead Security Officer, B.A.A.

“Well there are different aspects of the course. We have cargo searching, and passenger screening and things like that. I think those are specific areas that need to be highlighted and then we can improve on that.”

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement has a representative at the U.S. Embassy and periodically there will be other training seminars in Belize. Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.

The seminar ends December seventeenth.