United States: The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness had an interactive meet with the senior officials of the US Department of Justice, which coordinated and hosted a high-level meeting of law enforcement and security agencies.
He took to his official social media account and highlighted in the statement, “Today, Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson and I, met with senior officials of the United States Department of Justice, which coordinated and hosted a high-level meeting of law enforcement and security agencies.
[#THREAD]: Today, Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson and I, met with senior officials of the United States Department of Justice, which coordinated and hosted a high-level meeting of law enforcement and security agencies. pic.twitter.com/ivFArV4IqG
— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) December 9, 2022
In the meeting were, Deputy Assistant Attorney General & Counselor for International Affairs, Bruce Swartz, and several executives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs, the Organized Crime & Gang Section of the Department of Justice, the Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section, as well as the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program.
They have a discussion on extensively the growing threat of transnational criminal gangs, organized criminal violence and the trafficking of illegal guns.
Read here the full statement by Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness
We reviewed existing programmes and partnerships, and identified gaps which we will close, and new opportunities to advance collaboration.
We also committed to greater and more effective information sharing. Currently, we have identified to US law enforcement a number of Jamaican criminal actors residing in the United States, who are directing, soliciting or financing crime in Jamaica.
Our closer cooperation will ensure that criminals do not feel they have a safe haven in the United States from which to sponsor crimes in Jamaica.
We were assured that the United States is taking even greater steps to deal with the problem of illegal export of firearms and were pleased to note the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which creates a legal framework to interdict and prosecute persons illegally exporting guns from the United States. The bill was passed in June of this year.
We have asked that Jamaican traffickers, and guns destined for Jamaica, be given priority attention under this new law.
Our United States partners expressed confidence in the efforts of the Jamaican government and noted the increase in extradition of criminals from Jamaica who are wanted in the U.S.
Opportunities for further expansion of institutional and human resource capacity building and training were also explored.
Today’s meeting represents a firm step in crushing criminal networks overseas including foreign dons and gun traffickers who are soliciting, directing or sponsoring crimes in Jamaica.
