February 7, 2003

Countering Drug Transshipping Through Haiti

Historical Perspective

  Drug transshipping through Haiti began under the Duvalier government and escalated during the three years of the coup d’etat period when Haiti was run by a military regime. Several high level military officers were later convicted in U.S. Federal Court for cocaine smuggling during that 1991-94 period. Haiti, challenged by its geographic position between key South American countries and the U.S., is a new democracy still struggling to build democratic institutions and practices. These conditions make Haiti an opportune location for drug traffickers well aware that Haiti’s first civilian police force is short on personnel, training, and equipment. Despite numerous requests for assistance, Haiti does not have sufficient support from the international community to adequately fight the flow of drugs entering its territory via air, sea and land. Greatly handicapped by financial sanctions against Haiti for the past two years, Haiti’s efforts to reinforce its police, reform its judiciary, and maintain its prisons fall short without assistance from the international community. Last year, the U.S. State Department report on drug trafficking in Haiti acknowledged that: "Decreased assistance and resources presented serious problems for the [Haitian National Police] counter-narcotics effort. The HNP suffered attrition and recruitment problems, but still employed between 2500 and 3500 officers. However, there was little money for training, equipment, vehicle maintenance, fuel, and other necessities." Despite these obstacles, Haiti demonstrated its commitment to combat drug trafficking taking numerous and various steps that resulted in successfully decreasing the quantity of drugs passing through Haiti from 14% to 8%, according to a US Narcotics Control report. President Aristide has been outspoken on this issue and in a press conference this week he obliged Haitian judicial authorities seek out and prosecute all those involved in illicit drug trafficking, urging them to step up efforts in this area.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

·         National Committee Against Money Laundering created; 

·         Created a National Commission to Combat Drug Trafficking and Substance Abuse;

·         In April 2002, Drug Commission of regional experts in law enforcement and anti-drug policy visited Haiti to assist and advise Haiti in combating drug trafficking.  Former U.S. drug czar Lee Brown is a member of this commission.

JUSTICE AND POLICE EFFORTS

·         Established a Financial Intelligence Unit to combat money laundering;

·         Administered polygraph examination to 40 anti-drug unit police officers, and removed those with questionable results

·         For the year 2001, Haiti’s Anti-Narcotic Unit (BLTS) seized 420.97 kilos of cocaine, 1,852 kilos of marijuana, and destroyed 2 marijuana fields;

·         Haiti’s Inspector General arrested police accused of involvement in drug trafficking, including the police chief of the Southeastern Department for failure to properly cooperate with an investigation into the disappearance of a large quantity of cocaine;

·         Several arrests, including someone who was in possession of 58 kilos of cocaine and $1 million.

HISTORIC LEGISLATION & INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

·         Haiti deported drug dealers wanted by U.S. authorities for prosecution;

·         The Haitian authorities continue to work with U.S. DEA agents in Haiti and participate in regional operations to interdict drugs;

·         By unanimous vote of 29 nations, Haiti was accepted into the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force at the group's plenary meeting in Trinidad on March   27, 2001;

·         Signed a bilateral counter-narcotics Letter of Agreement with the United States;

·         On June 19, 2001, Parliament passed legislation that establishes a comprehensive framework for the prosecution and punishment of drug related crimes;

·         February 15, 2001 - Comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering Law was passed.  It specifically provides that Haiti cooperate with other nations in fighting money laundering and facilitate extraditions and asset seizures of drug traffickers;

·         Passed legislature ratifying the 1997 Maritime Counter Narcotics Agreement with the U.S., thereby allowing U.S. access to Haitian waters for anti-drug operations;

·     Putting into force a 1997 U.S.-Haiti bilateral maritime counter-narcotics interdiction agreement.

 "ZERO TOLERANCE" CAMPAIGN AGAINST CORRUPTION

In May 2002, President Aristide appealed to the citizens of Haiti to report wrongdoing, and called on government administrators to take action against corrupt practices.  He attributed the current corruption in the public administration to a system left over from years of dictatorships that created, "a mentality of charging money for services." 

ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION

The Government has intensified its campaign against corruption in public administration, including the following measures:

·         President made spot visits to various government offices;

·         Anti-corruption public service announcements;

·         Public offices instituted new procedures to prevent and address corruption;

·         Tax receipts increased as a result of proceedings against those who failed to pay;

·         Tax and customs officials proceeded against those who failed to comply with required licensing and fees.

  CONCRETE ACTIONS TAKEN, INCLUDE:

·         Former director of Haiti's electricity company was arrested and an investigation ordered for possible wrongdoing;

·         A police chief outside of the capital dismissed and charged for alleged complicity in a drug case;

·         Several government employees fired;

·         Elected officials unseated as a result of allegations of impropriety.