Antigua and Barbuda urged to confront new drug threats
Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin has warned that Antigua and Barbuda cannot “bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich” when it comes to tackling emerging narcotics.
Speaking at the opening of a regional training workshop, he said the country’s reputation as a tourism destination built on “sun, sand, sea, safety and security” depended on taking drug threats seriously.
The three-day event is focused on strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s Early Warning System, launched in 2021 to track and respond to new psychoactive substances. Supported by the Organisation of American States and funded by the Government of Italy, the programme brings together experts from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and St Lucia.
Training sessions will cover closer inter-agency coordination, the role of forensic laboratories, and equipping law enforcement with tools to detect synthetic drugs and opioids before they spread.
The initiative comes amid mounting global concern. Across North America, opioids such as fentanyl have fuelled a deadly crisis, while in Argentina last year 24 people died after consuming cocaine mixed with carfentanyl.
Officials say the workshop forms part of a broader Caribbean drive to strengthen drug monitoring systems and ensure the region is not blindsided by the next wave of narcotics threats.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
QT, the cute Rice Pudding squish mellow, please everyone knows that drugs to include alcohol for that’s a drug too is one of the tourist biggest demand. The now legal marijuana businesses are booming in this regard. The fetes which bring in many tourists are nothing but rum, drugs, demoralizing music and sex.
Mr. Rice Pudding Squish Mellow – dat cute one, STOP IT. DROP IT! ROLL IT UP LIKE A SPLIFF and smoke it!
Does the A&B police utilize sniffer/detection dogs at the points of entry? I’ve never seen one.
It’s good to have the system, but it must be paired with strong enforcement and community education. Otherwise, warnings alone won’t solve the problem.
What kind of drugs is he talking about, cocaine or pharmaceuticals?
We need to stop giving people duty free and taking money from them under the table
@ Bruhhh,
That’s what this political thing is all about. The biggest crooks are the ones the selfish idiots and beggars choose as leaders
How many politicians in Antigua have you known to have resigned or retires while in office?
No one leaves the bobul gravy train by their own choice.
The global ports mafia gang is using the tourist boats to transport the same that cutie spoke of, they even block prying eyes at heritage quay at night and special comrade as chairman