Authority plans to detain proprietors of flagless speedboats lacking necessary identification
In a bid to curb maritime drug trafficking, the government has proposed an update to the laws regulating power boats, specifically targeting fast boats that are 4 meters and above. These vessels, often favoured by drug traffickers, are a key tool for traffickers operating mainly from narco-states like Venezuela.
The proposed legislation seeks to impose jail penalties on the owners of high-speed launches that lack proper flags or identification. This move is intended to disrupt the operations of drug cartels, who exploit these unregulated vessels to transport illicit substances.
This legislative move is part of a broader effort to combat maritime drug trafficking. It complements intensified operations such as the U.S. Coast Guard's maritime interdictions in the Eastern Pacific (Operation Pacific Viper), where large-scale cocaine seizures occur predominantly at sea.
The broader enforcement strategy also includes cooperation among many countries in the Caribbean and beyond to dismantle drug trafficking networks using maritime routes. The government's approach is to curtail this method by targeting the owners responsible for these vessels, making it harder for traffickers to operate without regulatory oversight or identification.
In summary, the key details are:
- Proposal to update laws regulating power boats 4 meters and above, particularly targeting fast launches used by drug traffickers.
- Introducing criminal penalties (jail time) for owners of boats without flags or proper identification.
- Aimed at disrupting maritime trafficking routes exploited by drug cartels.
- Part of a broader regional and international law enforcement effort against drug trafficking at sea.
- The Blitz on maritime drug trafficking continues with the government's policy-and-legislation proposal to enforce jail penalties on owners of high-speed launches lacking proper identifications, contributing to crime-and-justice issues.
- The proposed update on policy-and-legislation targets fast boats, a key tool for drug traffickers, as part of the broader effort in general-news, which involves intensified operations and international cooperation to combat maritime drug trafficking.
