00:00The Prime Minister tells TV6 News the recent U.S. military strikes on what the U.S. says are boats being used by narco-traffickers in the region
00:08has definitely resulted in a reduction in illegal narcotics being trafficked to this country.
00:15And the Prime Minister says one result is an increase in the prices of two illegal drugs in particular.
00:21Jewel Brown reports.
00:23Following the latest lethal kinetic strike by the U.S. on a boat in the Caribbean as part of what the U.S. says is its worn drug cartels,
00:31TV6 News sent a question to Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bassessor to find out if such military action has resulted in a major reduction
00:38in the amount of illegal drugs entering Trinidad and Tobago.
00:42Prime Minister Passat-Bassessor told TV6 News quote,
00:44Yes, there definitely has been a reduction and this is evidenced by an increase in ganja and cocaine prices on the streets.
00:52By the way, fish prices remain the same, so clearly fishermen are still out in the sea working despite all the misinformation, end quote.
01:03CNN reported that as of Sunday, the U.S. military had killed 64 people in 15 strikes that destroyed 16 boats
01:11as part of a campaign that Washington says is aimed at curtailing the flow of drugs into the United States.
01:19Prime Minister Passat-Bassessor who chairs the National Security Council of Trinidad and Tobago
01:23also provided information she received from the National Security Apparatus which noted, quote,
01:29An integrated assessment conducted by our National Intelligence Agencies, including the Strategic Services Agency, the SSA,
01:37as well as the Central Intelligence Bureau, the CIB, and the Special Branch of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
01:44has confirmed that recent U.S. military strikes targeting narco-terrorist maritime operations
01:50have had a measurable impact on the flow of illegal narcotics into Trinidad and Tobago.
01:56The Prime Minister continued to refer to the information provided by National Security
02:01which said that intelligence indicates a current shortage of illicit drugs,
02:05particularly those trafficked from Venezuela and Colombia,
02:09and that this disruption has directly affected the availability of narcotics on Trinidad and Tobago's shores
02:15and has prompted organized crime groups to recalibrate the operations.
02:21Additional information provided by National Security to the Prime Minister stated that
02:24one emerging trend is the pursuit by criminal networks of local marijuana cultivation
02:30with hybrid seed varieties being actively sought.
02:34The assessment provided to the Prime Minister as part of the response to TV6 News has stated, quote,
02:39The economic impact is evident as the wholesale price of cocaine has surged by approximately 55 percent
02:46from U.S. $4,500 to U.S. $7,000, while marijuana has seen a 33 percent increase
02:54from U.S. $1,500 to U.S. $2,000.
02:58These price hikes reflect the elevated risk borne by transporters and the constrained supply environment,
03:05reshaping trafficking logistics and forcing organized crime groups to reconsider their operational models, end quote.
03:13The Prime Minister has also been advised that since the targeting of drug boats,
03:17Trinidad and Tobago's national security apparatus have increased their interdiction efforts.
03:22The Prime Minister was informed that from September 2nd to present,
03:26operations by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
03:30resulted in a seizure of 1,806.01 kilograms of creepy marijuana,
03:37117.14 kilograms of cocaine,
03:42with a total estimated street value of $361.488 million TT dollars,
03:49and three persons were arrested and warrants were taken out for others.
03:55Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
03:57The TV6 People Meter, brought to you by XL Health TT,
04:01the official supplements of the CPS.
04:06Tonight we're asking you,
04:07are you convinced that this country is reaping the benefits of the U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats?
04:14To vote, text yes or no to the number 766-4886 or 766-4TV6.
04:20We'll have the results for you at the end of this newscast.
04:23Still to come into the newscast.
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