14794: Karshan: Feb. 7, 2003 Issue Papers: Battling Drugs and Corruption (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

February 7, 2003 Issue Papers:  Battling Drugs and Corruption

BATTLING DRUGS
AND CORRUPTION

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 to 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.