Enill:
A matter for National Security: Local
chemicals in Colombian drug labs
Trinidad Express
Petroleumworldtt.com
03 30 08
Energy
Minister Conrad Enill says that the discovery
of chemicals from the nation's petrochemical sector
in illegal drug labs in Colombia is strictly
a matter for the National Security Ministry.
This was Enill's response to a report by the United
States Department of State International Narcotics
Control Strategy Report 2008, exclusively reported
by the Express on Monday, which highlighted the
finding.
Asked about this aspect of the
State Department's report on Wednesday, after
he attended the National
Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd's Dealership Meeting
at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Port of Spain, Enill
said, "That's a national security issue better
dealt with by the security intelligence boys."
The State Department's report said Trinidad and
Tobago's petrochemical industry imports and exports
chemicals that can be used for drug production,
and some had been found in cocaine labs in Colombia,
and noted that this nation's Government had instituted
export controls to prevent diversion of the chemicals.
Enill was asked whether the Energy Ministry, the
line ministry for the petrochemical sector, was
aware of the issue raised in the State Department's
report.
"Well that is a criminal activity. Why would
the Ministry of Energy be involved in a criminal
activity? That's a national security issue," Enill
said.
At a news conference yesterday, National Security
Minister Martin Joseph said the National Security
Ministry had seen the State Department's report
and had paid particular attention to its comments.
Joseph said a special meeting of the nation's
national security chiefs will be held soon to specifically
look at the report, which also said the majority
of the cocaine exported to this country arrives
at the nation's sea ports via commercial and sailing
vessels in addition to small fishing vessels.
Story by Juhel
Browne from
The Trinidad Express
-jbrowne@trinidadexpress.com
The
Trinidad Express
Friday, March 28th 2008
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