Dear Editor,

The recent efforts in nabbing marijuana traffickers by the police must be commended. But there is a bigger problem afoot in Guyana. It is the drug traffickers who traffic cocaine. While both of these groups of traffickers must be prosecuted, the fact that marijuana dealers are increasingly being nabbed but cocaine barons continue to walk free is a stark reminder of the imposing power of the cocaine cartels in Guyana and the powerlessness of the Guyana government and security forces to deal with them.

If law enforcement possesses the ability to target marijuana networks why is it seemingly always incapable of similarly tackling cocaine networks? I am not easily hoodwinked by cosmetic pre-election posturing where highly publicized and convenient arrests of marijuana traffickers are made for public consumption. Let us be greeted with news of prosecution, conviction and asset seizures. The posturing is for the gullible gallery.

Until I see real action against cocaine traffickers similar to what the USA has delivered in the Roger Khan and Peter Morgan cases I will reserve judgment.

Further, I have little faith in the actions of many in law enforcement, particularly those whose credibility have question marks. As Roger Khan has shown us, some will be bought for any purpose. Drug networks are growing increasingly complicated and we should try to understand how this impacts Guyana.

Marijuana traffickers have local and at best regional networks. Cocaine traffickers have international networks in the richest nations of the world. Further, marijuana is readily available in wealthy nations with some already providing legalized marijuana and considering the legalization of marijuana. As such, marijuana is not a major revenue earner like cocaine for cartels.

I suspect that in Guyana’s case, the biggest concern is that marijuana traffickers may want to shift into the cocaine trafficking segment particularly now that the Khan and Morgan cartels are disrupted.

Thus, until I see real movement against the real drug dealers in cocaine traffickers I will guardedly applaud the efforts of law enforcement.

Until there is evidence of similar aggression and bold intent against cocaine traffickers these actions are half-measures at best.

Yours faithfully,
Michael Maxwell