U.S. refusal to collaborate with Cuba will incite drug trafficking
• Washington has turned down six Cuban proposals to
work together to combat drug trafficking

BY LILLIAM RIERA—Granma International staff writer—
PHOTOS BY AHMED VELAZQUEZ

THE absence of a cooperation agreement between the United States and Cuba to combat drug trafficking, which stems from the recent U.S. rejection of such an agreement, could constitute an incentive for the drug trafficking industry, Abelardo Moreno, deputy minister of foreign affairs (MINREX) reported in Havana.

Moreno criticized the U.S. government decision to turn down six Cuban proposals in this regard, in spite of the fact that the “the U.S. population would be the prime beneficiary.” The United States is a country that has the highest demand for and use of narcotics with an annual consumption of 260 metric tons of cocaine and 13.3 of heroine.

The deputy foreign minister participated in a news conference with the press on the labors underway in Cuba to prevent and eliminate drug trafficking. Also present were Brigade Generals Jesús Becerra and Lázaro Román, head of the Anti-Drugs and Border Patrol sections of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT).

Cuba has signed agreements with 33 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Canada, all of which are based on “mutual respect, sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.” Moreover, the international agreements are all directed at confronting this epidemic. 

It was noted at the meeting that Cuba has been able to cooperate with the U.S Coast Guard “on a case-by-case basis” which confirms “that it could sign an agreement of that magnitude.”

Moreno confirmed that the Cuban government is willing to sign a bilateral agreement and assured that the proposals for collaboration were drawn up on the basis of a sense of responsibility and solidarity.

Cuba considers this type of cooperation “essential”, considering the worldwide increase in drug use, which is affecting 200 million people, 4.7% of the population aged over 15.

The deputy minister affirmed that “in Cuba, drug traffickers and international criminals can expect to receive the stiffest penalties” and assured that “more stringent” measures are being increasingly utilized to prevent drugs from becoming a social problem.

Nevertheless, he indicated that it has not as yet been possible to eradicate all the activities of international drug traffickers as evidenced by “isolated cases of consumption.” The costly prevention and curtailment efforts that the country is carrying out have been made even more onerous by the blockade, because it “impedes access to international funding and operative information at regional level.”

This “incipient” market is mainly supplied by aircraft dropping consignments over the island or speedboats operated by international drug traffickers who throw them overboard in violation of Cuba’s territorial waters, it was explained.

Cuba’s geographic position – between the producing countries of South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and consumer countries such as the United States and Europe – the opening of foreign investments, the growth in tourism, visitor exchanges, and foreign economic relations constitute important factors that expose the country to this crisis.

However the Cuban state policy against drug trafficking, dating from 1959 and which has consistently implemented prevention and curtailment strategies to address this phenomenon, has been strengthened over the years, with the protection of society and the prevention of national territory being used for drug trafficking as its main objectives.

75 TONS OF DRUGS SEIZED SINCE 1994

According to reports from the Head of the National Anti-Drug Task Force at MININT, 75 tons of drugs have been seized from 1994 to July 2004, of which more than 48 tons were packets that were washed ashore, and 244 drug trafficking operations were aborted on its maritime borders.

According to Brigade General Lázaro Román, the greatest volume of narcotics seized in Cuba comes from maritime hauls, in spite of the risks involved. Drugs dropped by speed boats can only be detected by covering the entire Cuban coastline of 5,700-plus kilometers, while national territory also includes more than 4,000 islands, cays and coves, for the most part uninhabited.

From 2000 to July 2004, 79 drug trafficking operations were uncovered at immigration points, 76 of them at the José Marti International Airport in the capital. In 11 of the 79 aborted operations it was discovered that the narcotics were destined for the “incipient” national market.

An assessment of this phenomenon reveals that the first six months of this year saw a decrease in the volume of drugs seized (1.314 million kilograms,) a little less than half the total in the same period last year (3.938 million kg,) and a figure that has a direct correlation to the decrease of drop offs (37), as opposed to 196 in the first quarter of 2003.

Likewise, over the last 18 months, as a result of improvements in Cuba’s Customs Office and the MININT departments responsible for curtailing drug trafficking at the airports, it was possible to abort 14 international drug trafficking operations, detain 24 individuals, seize more than 30 kilograms of drugs, and detect 316 foreigners who were carrying small amounts for personal use.

These achievements, without doubt, have been due in large measure to the implementation of Operation Aché (which took place in three stages) and Operation Coraza Popular (Popular Shield).

Brigade General Román noted that as a result of Operation Aché – which in its third stage, initiated March 2003, covered the entire national territory – seized more than 28 tons of drugs and frustrated more than 14 drug trafficking operations.

Although he did not provide details of Operation Ache’s expenditure in its third stage, the head of the MININT Border Patrol Forces assured that “it was very expensive for the country” (since the price of oil in the world market has shot up to 54 dollars per barrel) and because of the cost of the equipment used, where a radar unit is priced at around $14 million.

The deputy foreign minister also highlighted as well that the nation is using its own resources to combat this problem.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces air and naval vessels are cooperating with the MININT to strengthen the protection of maritime borders.

MORE THAN 3,000 PERSONS DETAINED FOR TRAFFICKING AND SELLING

In relation to the activities of Coraza Popular, approximately 3,000 people were detained for participating in the trafficking and the selling of drugs in the internal market. The majority of those detained had criminal records and 65.2% of the defendants were sentenced to six or more years’ imprisonment.

Operation Coraza Popular began in January 2003, likewise with the combined participation of the MINIM Special Forces, state agencies, the political and mass organizations and the support of the people. Its objective was to bring to an end drug trafficking and selling, using speedboats to smuggle drugs, and the isolated growing of marijuana.

Special attention has also been given to prevent and eliminate the theft or misuse of psychoactive drugs (on which much more still has to be done), as well as to eradicate isolated and small marijuana harvests and the utilization by unscrupulous individuals of substances with effects similar to drugs.

To questions from the press on the status of Luis Hernando Gómez Bustamante, alias “Rasguño,” Columbian drug trafficker and head of the powerful Valle cartel, detained in Cuba in July and extradited to his country, Abelardo Moreno reported that “it is still being investigated,” hence the total discretion surrounding the case. 

PREVENTION: KEY TO CONFRONTING THE DRUG PROBLEM

Aware that its growing relations and contacts with the world amplifies its possibility of being a target for drugs, Cuba is gradually increasing its curtailment and protective measures at all levels of society.

Prevention, therefore, has become the key to many different programs that the country is implementing to confront the epidemic, affirmed Justice Minister Roberto Diaz Sotolongo.

Heading a panel which consisted of two sessions of information provided to the press on Cuba’s work in this context, Diaz Sotolongo indicated that it is a difficult battle, and that the most important thing is to educate the population – in particular the youth – into taking the conscious decision and having the conviction not to consume.

The likewise president of the National Commission on Drugs also referred to the ministries of Public Health (MINSAP), Education (MINED), Higher Education (MES) and the Young Communist League  (UJC) as leaders in these prevention programs in Cuba.

The head of the Justice Ministry referred to the first study on drug misuse in Cuba, which began in Havana and included its 15 municipalities. 25,000 homes were visited and more than 18,000 people between the ages of 12-45 were interviewed.

According to the Minister, the study concluded that most of the population have intolerant attitudes towards users and believe that they should be sanctioned (what Cuba sanctions is trafficking), as well the need to combine preventative education with corrective measures.

ENSURING FAMILY SUPPORT AND SOCIAL REHABILITATION

In Cuba, the MINSAP is trying to promote healthy life styles for its population to prevent group addiction and situations of risk. But people who are already sick are not abandoned to their fate.

Guillermo Barrientos, head of the National Mental Health and Addiction Operative Group of that ministry, explained that these addicts not only require “integral ongoing clinical attention” but also “their reinsertion within the family and rehabilitation into the social and labor world. “It is precisely this last effort that makes Cuba’s rehabilitation programs different from others that exist in the world, he said.

The doctor indicated that the psychosocial rehabilitation of these patients is based on family support, as well as self-help groups for addicts. (AA/NA). In addition, they provide activities that will teach them employable skills for a previously coordinated return to the workplace.

The island has 199 Community Mental Health centers, where these addicts can meet, without leaving their environment, and receive sterling attention from psychologists, toxicologists, and social workers.

PROMOTING A CULTURE OF NON-TOLERANCE

Leaders from the MINED, the MES and the Young Communist League offered a detailed explanation on the work that they are organizing to educate and prepare the family and young people on the dangers of drug abuse. According to data collected on the Island of Youth, Cuba, with a population around 11 million inhabitants, there are more than four million children and young people aged 5-30, and they constitute the most vulnerable group.

Talks in schools and communities, the promotion of recreational-cultural activities, sports and the invaluable help of short televised educational news programs are all angled at creating community values that guarantee healthy life styles.