25 November, 2006



Lourdes Perez Navarro

"Cuba is an obstacle for international drug traffickers because it does not provide shelter to those fleeing from justice of other nations, it is not a high consumer, it is not a country of transit or for stockpiling drugs, and is not a producer of such substances," said Brigadier General Jesus Becerra Murciego, head of the National Anti-Drugs Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.

While participating in the final session of the Eighth International Congress of Penal Sciences at the Havana Convention Center, Becerra said that "during the last ten months there has been a decreasing tendency in drug traffic towards the interior of Cuba and a diminishing of the use of our waters to carry out such operations."

Gen. Becerra warned that to combat this evil it is vital to increase the exchange of information and cooperation between the anti-drug services of different countries —always under the principles of shared responsibility, respect for sovereignty and national laws, and in compliance with international treaties and bilateral accords.

In the case of Cuba, Becerra said such cooperation is on the rise and with results to show for it. He said joint efforts have made possible a better and more systematic training of the island’s anti-drug specialists.

The brigadier general said the Cuban government is using all the necessary resources in this battle as well as having all the required legal procedures to act both in the penal and administrative domains and impose severe punishment.