The United States and the Dominican Republic have signed a Letter of Understanding that includes a US$10 million donation in support of anti-drug trafficking measures and policies. The funds will be spent on improving law officials’ skills and professionalism and to reduce demand for drugs. The agreement amends the 11 April 2013 anti-narcotics agreement.
United States Embassy’s International Narcotics Affairs Section, headed by Mario Fernandez, will coordinate the distribution of the funds, in support of the work being done as part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the 911 System and its expansion to other regions in the country.
Funds will be used for training and technical assistance will be given to Dominican border control units (CESEP, CESA, CESFRONT) so they can increase their capacity for detecting shipments of illegal narcotics and other drugs.
Also to improve training for the National Police with the help of the Colombian Police. The programs will involve training 600 members a year.
Also planned is support to the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) for training investigators and providing drug control agents with communications equipment. Funds will be allocated to a new program for reducing drugs demand by reaching out to vulnerable young people. The program is also designed to train judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, police and other stakeholders in basic to advanced techniques for judicial processes. There will be courses on organized crime, forensic sciences, criminal interviewing, financial analysis and asset laundering. The funds will also be allocated to training and purchasing drug detection dogs to expand their use at air and maritime ports.
“Our common goal is to develop the institutional capacity of the national security agencies and expand citizen security in all senses,” said ambassador Brewster.
The agreement was signed by Acting Foreign Relations Minister Jose Manuel Trullols and US Ambassador James Brewster. The head of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) Julio Cesar Souffront, Mario Fernandez and Francisco Fernandez of the Anti-Narcotics Section of the US Embassy were also present.
US Ambassador James Brewster said that in 2013, an estimated 60 metric tons of drugs were imported, of which the authorities seized 25% in joint operations with the US government.