Illegal firearms trafficking tops Caribbean security agenda at CONSLE summit
CARICOM's security council met in Paramaribo to address gun trafficking fuelling gang violence. Suriname's minister called for stronger regional cooperation.
Caribbean ministers flag gun trafficking as growing transnational threat
Illegal firearms trafficking poses a major security threat across the Caribbean, fuelling violent crime and gang activity — that was the central warning delivered at the opening of the 29th CARICOM Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) meeting in Paramaribo, Suriname, thestkittsnevisobserver.com reports.
Harish Monorath, Chair of CONSLE and Suriname's Minister of Justice and Security, told delegates that criminal networks were growing more organised and more sophisticated, increasingly exploiting borders, ports and maritime routes to move weapons, drugs and other illicit goods.
"Across the Caribbean, firearms remain a significant enabler of violent crime and gang activity. Criminal groups are becoming more organised, more sophisticated and increasingly transnational," Monorath said.
The two-day meeting, held from November 10 to 11, brought together CARICOM ministers responsible for national security along with senior law enforcement officials from across the region.
Monorath argued that no individual member state could address firearms trafficking in isolation. He called for stronger regional cooperation to trace illegal weapons, identify their sources, disrupt trafficking networks and improve intelligence-sharing among member states.
He also urged accelerated implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, describing it as a key framework for reducing gun violence and strengthening public safety across the Community.
The minister identified the regional firearms agenda as one of three priorities during Suriname's chairmanship of CONSLE. Specific proposals include enhancing firearms tracing capabilities, deepening intelligence-sharing and broadening cooperation among police, customs, immigration, coast guard and prosecutorial authorities.
Suriname has already taken steps domestically, launching a digital firearms register earlier this year with support from the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). The system is intended to improve monitoring and tracing of firearms and provide law enforcement with additional tools to combat gun-related crime.
"Above all, we need the political will to treat these issues as closely linked elements of one collective Caribbean security challenge," Monorath said.
CONSLE is the body responsible for coordinating regional security strategy and developing responses to serious crime and violence across CARICOM member states.
Source: Google News KN — Crime