cannabisnews.com: Mitch Damage Seen upping Drug Traffic in Caribbean Mitch Damage Seen upping Drug Traffic in Caribbean Posted by FoM on December 16, 1998 at 10:30:27 PT George Town Cayman Islands, The destruction of roads and bridges in Central America by Hurricane Mitch may force South American traffickers to send more illegal drugs through the Caribbean, according to a top regional law enforcement official. Derek Haines, Chief Superintendent of the Caymans Drugs Task Force, said on Tuesday washed out bridges on the Pan-American highway had slowed the flow of drugs along that route and seen traffickers return to the sea lanes. "I expect more drugs from South America to transit the various routes across the Caribbean and into the U.S. in the coming months, rather than go by land through Mexico to the U.S. border," Haines said. Hurricane Mitch, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms this century, struck Central America in late October, killing thousands of people and causing catastrophic damage in Honduras and Nicaragua. Haines made the comments after his department, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, made the second major marijuana seizure in the past two weeks in the western Caribbean. The seizures followed a year-long lull in smuggling in the region as South American drug lords found the borders of Central American nations easier to penetrate, Haines said. "They are now turning their attention back to the high speed boats as a means of smuggling," he said. Authorities have seized more than 1,500 lbs (680 kg) of high-grade marijuana, valued at more than $5 million, in Cayman waters in the past two weeks. The Cayman Islands, a British dependent territory in the western Caribbean, are known as an upscale offshore financial centre and a prime scuba diving destination. Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by CAYMANIAN on July 30, 2001 at 11:41:33 PT MY THOUGHTS ONSMUGGLING AND DRUGS IN THE COMMUNITY SMUGGLING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE CARIBBEAN ESPECIALLY IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON. I LIVE ON GRAND CAYMAN, AND IN WEST BAY I HAVE WITNESSED WHAT DRUGS HAS DONE TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY. NO OFENCE TO ANYONE AT ALL BUT I THINK THAT ONLY WAY THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN GET CLEARED UP IS TO GET RID OF THE CORRUPTION IN THE POLICE FORCE AND LAW. I HAVE NEVER TRIED ANY KIND OF DRUG AND DON'T INTEND TO. BUT DRUGS AND THEIR ADDICTS ARE CIRCLING AROUND ME EVERY DAY AND EDUCATION AND GETTING RID OF THE CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT AND ALL THROUGH THE ISLANDS IS THE KEY AND TO TURN THAT KEY WE NEED TO HAVE HARSHER PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE WHOSE HAVE BEEN COVICTED OF BRINGING IN THOSE DRUGS TO THE ISLANDS AND THOSE DISTRIBUTING THEM THROUGHOUT. I DON'T WANT TO SEE MY SIBLINGS GROW IN THE ENVIROMENT I DID. I PRAY EVERY NIGHT THAT WE WILL BECOME DRUG FREE ISLANDS ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE DRUGS TRULY DESRTOY THE REPUTATION OF OUR ISLANDS. I THINK THAT THE LAW IS DOING GOOD BUT LIKE ALL THINGS NEED TO BE IMPROVED. THANK YOU. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: