Security Agencies Reject Drug Trafficking Claims, Reaffirm Antigua and Barbuda’s Low-Risk Status
Antigua and Barbuda’s security agencies on Wednesday rejected allegations circulating in regional media and on social platforms that the country or its officials are linked to narcotics trafficking routes, saying there is no credible intelligence or evidence to support such claims.
Speaking at a press conference, Edward Croft, head of the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP), delivered a joint statement on behalf of the country’s security agencies, reaffirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding national and regional security.
Croft said recent commentary suggesting that Antigua and Barbuda or its political leadership is involved in regional drug trafficking networks is not supported by any official findings, investigations, or intelligence assessments .
“As the professional heads of the agencies responsible for national security and law enforcement, we state unequivocally that Antigua and Barbuda has worked vigorously and consistently to counter narcotics trafficking,” Croft said, adding that this effort is reflected in independent international assessments classifying the country as a low-risk jurisdiction .
He noted that Antigua and Barbuda has undergone detailed peer review under the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and is not listed among jurisdictions identified by the Financial Action Task Force as having strategic deficiencies requiring enhanced monitoring .
Croft said regional and international bodies have also recognized the country’s performance, including evaluations noting effective inter-agency cooperation, intelligence-led investigations, and participation in joint operations aimed at dismantling organized criminal networks .
While acknowledging that drug trafficking, fraud, and firearms-related crime remain ongoing concerns, Croft said allegations are assessed on their merits and pursued when evidence meets the required threshold. “Where evidence exists, investigations are pursued and arrests are made. The law guides our actions,” he said .
He said the National Security Council, chaired by the prime minister, has given clear and documented direction that the country must never be used directly or indirectly as a corridor for narcotics trafficking. Under that policy, security agencies are required to share intelligence fully, cooperate with international partners, and take enforcement action without regard to status or position .
Croft outlined ongoing operations including maritime surveillance and interdiction, financial investigations targeting illicit proceeds, and active cooperation with partners in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the European Union and regional counterparts .
He urged members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious activity, assuring citizens that law enforcement, border control agencies and the Defence Force remain fully engaged in protecting the country’s borders, financial systems and national security .
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
We will soon hear it’s the UPP that started this rumor..The Birdites and Gastonites will start flooding ANR with their comments.
Who does the ONDCP take directions from? Who he said Is the chair? The leaders of Caribbean countries are the ones accuses. The PM is all of that.
Wherever their is a demand, there would always be a supply. The US government must spend time and look within and deal with its citizens insatiable quest for drugs. It’s their massive demand and consumption of illicit drugs that makes the drug trade so lucrative and worthwhile for many. And like everyone jumping on the bandwagon cause plenty money in deh.
Croft, time will tell. You know the art of surveillance of today, in these times of George Orwell and Pompey’s. WHAT THE HELL…
RAWLSTON POMPEY, what the hell, I n I pray, can you tell of the two Antiguans who spent decades in Trinidad’s Prisons because, allegedly, they were caught with a barge of loaded with cocaine in 100 gal oil drums, headed for Antigua?
Now, Antigua with its International Airport, since, the 1960’ with BOAC, PAN AM, flights to America and Europe, according to school Picknee was a transshipment hub!
So Croft, we understand, that you have to come to the public and do damage control, but less you forget and please don’t, you know America’s CIA do not make idle threats. They still control the systems which dope flows through.
CIA DRUGS R US and The Mena Connection are great videos to just watch for fun.
The BVI Premier is sitting in a Federal Prison, for a reason.
Let’s not kid ourselves, COCAINE and all other forms of Drugs Alcohol to Zanax to Mollies, OXY the police investigation,,$ to now the legal Cannibis (was surprised to read, that a Nevisian politician see Cannabis as a savior to Caribbean future development), but, but, DRUGS and TOURISM goes hand in glove.
And, no way you’re gonna gave millions of partygoers from America not indulging in their vices.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg 🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
Heads of the security agencies in Antigua and Barbuda!!
Where is the head of customs, or the representative from that agency???
So we just condemn people without proof? America is deflecting, “again”. Can we be the worst in the world, or are we upset our party is not in office. If there’s proof, we would like to know.
WHAT THE HELL…! …4-MEN AND 1-WOMAN AT TABLE SITTING TO SING
***
New Year’s Greetings- 2026 to the one and only, ‘…RAS SMOOD.’
***
NOW: BACK IN TIME:
‘Way ‘…BACK IN TIME,’ SLINGER FRANCISCO, ‘Mighty Sparrow’ sings:
(a) ‘…SING RUFUS SING:
(b) …YOU GOT TO SING FOR YOUR RUM TONIGHT:
***
TODAY:
(c) …NO ONE KNOWS: that
(d) …4-MEN AND 1-WOMAN: would
(e) …BE SITTING AT A TABLE, TODAY:
(f) …SEEMINGLY NO ONE KNEW: that
(g) …THEY WOULD BE SINGING: a
(h) …TUNE TO THE EARS: of
(i) …THE CITIZENS:
(ii) …US PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP: and
(iii) …THE CHAIRPERSON OF ‘US ICE,’ KRISTI NOEM.’
TODAY’S MAYHEM
CLearly by ‘…TRUMP AND NOEM:
CAME UNEASINESS AND MAYHEM: over
(i) ‘…MASS DEPORTATION: and
(ii) …VISA-ISSUING RESTRICTIONS: and
(iii) …CURTAILED MIGRATION.’
***
SINGING OVER:
Now, when the ‘SINGING’ by those at the table, was ‘OVER: only
(a) ‘…TWO MEN, AND THE ONE WOMAN VOICES WERE HEARD.’
***
BACK AT SCHOOL:
NOW:
(i) …ONE MAY RECALL, ‘…BACK AT SCHOOL: when
(ii) …THE TEACHER MADE ALL THE ‘…GRADED INFANTS, SING.’
***
(a) ‘…THERE’S A BROWN GIRL IN THE RING, ‘TR-LA-LA-LA-LA:
(b) …BROWN GIRL IN THE RING: TRA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA:
***
THOUGH NOT SO INTELLIGENT, THEY WERE ALLOWED TO SING:
‘…THE GIRLS LOVE SUGAR: and
…THE BOYS LOVE PLUM.’
***
THAT WHICH THEY ‘LOVE,’ PUT TOGETHER, THE INFANTS GOT TWO WORDS: ‘…SUGAR PLUM.’
***
ONE LITTLE BIG HEAD BOY, ON RETURNING HOME, TOLD HIS PARENTS: that
(i) ‘…HE WAS SINGING FOR ‘…SUGAR AND PLUM: but
(ii) …HE GOT NONE.’
***
RIGHT HERE, ONE ALSO REMEMBERS:
‘…RING-O-RING OF ROSES
***
(a) ‘…THOUGH NOT HEARD SINGING, TWO DUMB BOYS: may have been
(b) …WITH THEIR POCKETS FULL OF POSIES:
***
Both seemingly, were either:
TOO ‘…DUMB TO SING: or
WERE TOO ‘SHY’ TO ENGAGE IN ANY KIND OF TALKING.’
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
Well, if nothing else, they were ‘…NUMERICALLY EXPOSED.’
***
NONE SHALL SING:
As no one knows what they ‘LOVE,’ NONE SHALL SING:
(a) ‘…TWO DUMB BOYS IN THE RING: neither
(b) …SHALL ANYONE SING: ‘TRA-LA-LA-LA-LA.’
***
MAY BE SAY ‘…HALLEJUAH: and SING: …PRAISE TO JAH.’
***
This is nothing new. Don’t listen to the rhetoric, watch the moves. There are many whose lifestyles don’t match their salaries.
I’m not going to go as far as to say they are involved directly, but I’ll go as far as to say that GB and the PM of Dominca were picked out for a very plausible reason.
My contention is that they were deeply involved with a CIP recipient that slip through the cracks, and it has something to do with the Venezuela oil connection.
That I know..so yes, one way or the other, these two are compromised, and I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if they are informants for the very same CIA.
Like I said .Kamala knows the details..she was briefed on it by the US, trust me.
This dept is a govt appointed position and therefore not independent nor credible. Just because laundered money doesn’t show up in your systems doesn’t mean narcotics arent being smuggled through our seas and stored ion our islands. This does nothing to clear leaders of any involvement in the drug trade. Get real… Wheel and come sgain
@Islanman26. Trust you? Hahaha.🤣
@Anonymous.
Not in a literal sense, but you best believe that those two are highly compromised.
The CIA doesn’t have profilers who are dumb.
And were they not highly involved in the strike on Venezuela? What information you think they have gathered of the years?
So yes, trust my instincts, because they lined up with the pattern of behavior exhibited by these two. The two longest tenured PM in the Caribbean presently.
I’m never wrong when it comes to GB and co, never.
And please go and ask him about who killed Asot and why? Because that too will be exposed.
And @Anonymous.
GB has been given another olive branch to get his arse straight, because for some reason they like him in Washington, but he better look for those he will through under the bus when other stuff comes out.
You want me to really continue?
This is the very reason the General came all the way here to visit, then resigned immediately after, why?
You think he just came here to swim at jolly beach?
You better think.
The psychology/intentions of humans are as plain as daylight. It’s not rocket science.
And I know your leader, you best believe that.