All amounts in U.S. dollars. Numbers in italics are estimates, usually based on the closest year for which data are available.

All amounts in U.S. dollars. Numbers in italics are estimates, usually based on the closest year for which data are available.

All amounts in U.S. dollars.

All amounts in U.S. dollars.

Document: 2008 End-Use Monitoring Report

Program: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement

KINGSTON

Background

EUM Program Coordinator
Andrea Lewis, Tel. 876-702-6085; LewisAM@state.gov

Inventory System
NAS keeps records in an Excel spreadsheet.

Staff Member Responsibilities
The NAS Program Assistant (LES employee) conducts the majority of site visits. The Program Assistant maintains the inventory; GSO shipping is responsible for Customs clearance. The GSO warehouse in collaboration with the NAS Director is responsible for property disposal.

Counterpart Agencies
JCF Jamaica Constabulary Force
JCF-Jamaica Constabulary Force Anti-Corruption Branch
JCF-MP Jamaica Constabulary Force Narcotics Police
JCF-NP-AITF Jamaica Constabulary Force Narcotics Police Airport Interdicting Force Narcotics
JCF-NIB Jamaica Constabulary Force National Intelligence Branch
JCF-OCID Jamaica Constabulary Organized Crime Disvision
JDF Jamaica Defense Force
JDF/AW Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing
JDF/CG Jamaica Defence Coast Guard
Jamaica Defence Force Military Intelligence Unit
CET-Jamaica Customs Contraband Enforcement Team
FID-Financial Investigative Divisions (Ministry of Finance)
Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team (JFAT)

Receipt
Signed receipts are obtained for all donated commodities. The receipt includes NAS Kingston's post-donation reporting requirements and the mandate to conduct on-site inspection at least once per year.

Monitoring Procedures

On-site Inspections
On-site inspections are conducted at least once per year during September/December. Inspections are scheduled to insure that mobile commodities are assembled to facilitate efficient review by NAS staff.

Eight hundred six (806) INL-donated items were subject to inspection. Post monitored 100% of the items.

On-site inspections were conducted on a rolling basis of one to two per week between October 2008 and January 2009.

Status-Commodities

Computer Equipment
Six desktop computers are located at the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) building. The server for this building is currently in storage at NAS Kingston. It should be installed in mid-2009.

Seven desktop computers are located in the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard JDF/CG) Headquarters. The computers are used to support JDF/CG operations.

Seven desktop computers are located at the Office of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Narcotics Police /Vetted Unit; one desktop is located at the Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team (JFAT) office. They are used to support operations, investigations as well as routine office reports.

Four laptops are located at the JDF/CG headquarters, Cagway. Three are kept on large patrol vessels. They are used to support JDF/CG operations. The laptops provide quick access to a large volume of operational information for the vessels while at seas and enable them to be less dependent on the CG headquarters.

Three laptops are located the National Intelligence Branch (NIB) Kingfish. They were used to support NIB operations.

Six laptops and two additional hard drives are located at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution's Office in Kingston. They are adequately used by the department prosecutors when they go out on circuit to prosecute cases.

Five units of i2 Inc software were donated to the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Two are at NIB, Kingfish and three are at the Cyber Crime Unit. The NAS is in the process of procuring training for the users to maximum their use of this investigative tool.

Three servers are at the JDFD/CG and the NIM, Kingfish.

One server is installed in the JDF CG operations room. It is used for information sharing, management of electronic workload. and the maintenance programs for vessels.

Computer related items including mini towers, rooters, network storage arrays, and power edge services were forwarded to the Financial Investigation Division (FID). FID reported that there are challenges in the configuration of the poweredge server. Therefore, the NAS had to withdraw all financial support from the FID. The matter is being addressed directly with the Ministry of Finance and NAS anticipates resolution before June 2009. Once the FID is fully vetted, the NAS will reengage and address the configuration problems. All other computers and other related items are in good working condition and are used to support FID investigations.

In 2000, the International Organization for Migration funded the GOJ entry exit system called ENTRIX. The demands of the system outstripped its capacity, causing delays in record searches and entry and exit of passengers from and to major airports. Several budget constraints prevent the GOJ from upgrading the equipment.

Office Equipment
Four photo copy machines are located at the JDF/CG Contraband Enforcement Team (CET), Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team (JFAT), and the Narcotics Police Office at the Kingston Airport.

One flat screen TV is at the JDF/CG operational room and is used for training, operations and office briefings. One 27- inch color television set is located at the JCF Vetted Unit. Three shredders, one each are at the NIB, JFAT, and the JDF/CG. Of the eighteen four-drawer filing cabinets, nine are at NIB. one at JFAR, and eight are at the JCF/Vetted unit. One sofa is at the vetted unit. Of the eight three-draw filing cabinets, six are at the NIB and two are at the vetted unit. One fax machine is located at the JCF vetted unit.

The following items are located at the Task Force building: 14 desks, two executive desks with credenzas, seven tables, four filing cabinets, six filing cupboards, eight executive chairs, two mid-back chairs, twenty-eight style chairs, thirteen A/C units, one fax machine, three printers, one safe, one photo printer, one safe, one photocopier, one PBX telephone system with eight telephones

One remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) is at the JDF/CG. There have been technical difficulties both human and equipment related which have not been resolved. The ROV is used to search vessel hulls for hidden containers that contain contraband.

Miscellaneous Equipment
Seven binoculars: five day and one night vision goggle are at the NIB Kingfish and one standard binoculars at JFAT. They are used for operations.

Four night storm floatable binoculars and two standard binoculars are used by the JDF headquarters.

Two Night Vision Goggles, 3 FLIR and 3 canon stabilized binoculars are at the JDF/CG. One camcorder is used by the NIB office for operations.

Eight cameras: four each were donated to the JDF/CG and JDF/Airwing; four are at the JDF/CG; and four are at the JFC/Air Wing. There are four large patrol vessels and one aircraft used during operations.

One oscilloscope is at the JDF/CG. It is used by the engineering department to troubleshoot and repair electric equipment.

One heavy duty sewing machine is at the JDF/CFG. It is used by the engineering department to troubleshoot and repair electronic equipment.

One heavy duty chair is at the JDF/AW. It has been used to prepare field emergency units during drug eradication operations.

Twelve brush cutters and replacement parts were donated to the JDF for manual eradication operations. The brush cutters are at the JDF Training Camp in Montague. Some of the cutters are no longer serviceable and will be replaced in 2008.

Parts to repair the JDF decompression chamber were donated by the JDF/CG. However, the chamber is not yet operational as some additional parts are needed. Subject to availability of funds, the NAS will supply the necessary part in 2009.

Two metal detectors and one hand-held vapor tracer machine are at CET.

A new emulator machine was purchased in 2008 for the Jamaica Constabulary Force. It is located at the training facility at Twickenham Par, St. Catherine.

A used machine that once belonged to the JCF was refurbished and is not at JDF facility in Kingston. The machines are used to enhance the shooting skills sets of the security forces.

Weapons
The 260 M-16 rifles are held by the JCF. The JCF is in the process of changing their weapons to MP3's for routine police operations. However, they will be keeping the M16 rifles for special operations. Hence, some of these weapons are for training the Police Academy and for other training facilities. The others are kept in secure storage and are issued on an as needed basis.

JCF
M-16 rifles
260

Communications Equipment
Twenty radios have been given to the security forces. Twelve are at the Narcotics Police/vetted unit. They are all inoperable and will be removed for the 2009 inventory.

Eight are at the JDF. These radios are inoperable and will be removed for the inventory in 2009

Vehicles
Thirty-eight motor vehicles have been donated to the GOJ. They are used in support of counter-narcotics operations, transportation of fugitives, and other law enforcement personnel and border control duties.

In 2008, the NAS replaced all vehicles over ten years old and increased the existing fleet with seventeen additional new vehicles.

JDF
Truck
2
Toyota sedan
5
Van
1
SUV
2

JCF
SUV
13
Toyota sedan
8
Panel van
1
Truck
2

CET
Toyota Sedan
2
SUV
1

Vessels
Two refurbished inshore Sea arks are used by the JDF/CG to do in shore operations and provide platforms for divers who recover contraband from vessels. Two additional 40-foot Sea Ark vessels are at the Coast Guard. In the past, they were used for drug interdiction operations. They are currently in dry- docking awaiting a full refit. The hulls are in good conditions. The CG would like to refurbish them and has asked for NAS assistance. The refit price ($300,000) per vessel exceeds current NAS Kingston's budget capacity.

None of the three of the Coastal Interceptors donated to the JDF/CG have worked properly; and are in dry-dock. Due to severe budget constraints, neither the JDF nor NAS Kingston can afford the cost to remove and refit the engines and propulsion systems. The NAS has given the JDF/CG permission to dispose of the vessels and use the funds in support of counter-narcotics operations. The JDF is in the process of clearing the bureaucratic hurdles within the GOJ to effect disposal.

A Rigid Inflatable Hull craft is at the JDF/CG and is used by the divers in routine operations to examine the under water hulls of ships for contraband. The vessel is maintained by the JDF/CG.

Ten life rafts were donated to the Jamaica Defense Force. Six are kept at the JDF/CG and four at the JDF/AW. The JDF/CG has deployed them at their stations while the Jamaican Defence Force Air Wing (JDF/AW) has the ability to transport them to a location when required. Both units have trained their personnel how to operate these rafts.

One aluminum boat trailer is used by the JDF/CG. It is used when required.

JDF Coast Guard
Sea Ark-40-ft
4
Coastal Interceptors
3
Rigid Inflatable Hull craft
1
Rubber life rafts
6

JDF Air Wing
Rubber Life rafts
4

Program Impact

Vessels
The SeaArk vessels provided platforms for divers who recover contraband from vessels and performed short operations.

Vehicles
The vehicles are used in support of counter-narcotics operations and transportation of fugitives and other law enforcement personnel and border control duties.

Problems and Corrective Action Plan (COR)
None

Document: International Narcotics Control Strategy Report

Program: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement

U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs

Policy Initiatives. The USG supports counternarcotics projects in Jamaica designed to increase the capacity of its law enforcement agencies to reduce the trafficking of illicit narcotics through Jamaica and sustain improvements in law enforcement capabilities through modernization and professionalization of the JCF, while maintaining a strong and corruption-free law enforcement institution. The pressures of narcotics trafficking, money laundering, corruption and crime undermine the rule of law and democratic governance. Supporting Jamaica's transformation into a more secure, democratic, prosperous and stable partner represents a major U.S. policy goal. This included enhancing the abilities of Jamaica's law enforcement agencies to detect and intercept shipments and detain traffickers.

Bilateral Cooperation. In 2009, the USG provided training and material support to elements of the JCF and JDF to strengthen their counternarcotics, and anticorruption capabilities and improve the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of organized crime, including assisting the GOJ with vetting of specialized units within the JCF. The Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team (JFAT) received specialized training, equipment, guidance and operational support from the U.S. Marshals permanently stationed in Kingston. The U.S. Marshals opened 71 new cases and closed 198 cases involving U.S. fugitives. Jamaican authorities made 14 arrests, 15 extraditions and eight deportations during the year.

The JDF Coast Guard participated in joint deployments with the USG in Jamaican waters during 2009 under the auspices of "Operation Riptide," which allow both nations to conduct law enforcement operations within each other's maritime zones and is authorized under the Joint Jamaica-United States Maritime Cooperation Agreement Concerning Cooperation in Suppressing Illicit Maritime Trafficking. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard provided JDF Coast Guard resident, mobile and on –the-job training in maritime law enforcement, engineering and maintenance, search and rescue, port security, and leadership and management, while a three phase training exercise was conducted which covered land navigation, port security, and search and rescue boat maintenance and repair and leadership principles.

Multilateral Cooperation. While multi-nationals (United States, United Kingdom and Canada) continue to provide assistance to the GOJ for the implementation of 124 recommendations cited in the Police Strategic Review, a parallel strategy to enhance judicial operations has gained support from all partners The priority to assist the Anti-Corruption Branch with tackling corruption among senior police officers while, in tandem, strengthening the judiciary infrastructure so it can adequately process all forms of criminality remains high. Recognizing the abysmal five percent conviction rate for murders, the U.S. sponsored a comprehensive training which focused on defining the role of the prosecutor, developing broader analytical tools, and applying their skills via mock case studies in concert with the United Kingdom Crown Prosecution Service, the United Kingdom's High Commission and the GOJ . The Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs' Narcotics Affairs Section in Kingston also brought the Governments of Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic together to define, discuss, and formulate a multilateral strategy to reduce transnational crimes in the region organized crime activity between the three countries. As a result, the GOJ and Government of Haiti were in the final stages of drafting a security agreement covering a wide range of issues including joint operations, personnel exchanges, joint training, intelligence sharing, immigration, drugs and narcotics interdiction, transnational crime and gang reduction.

A two day meeting comprising of representatives from the Jamaican, American, British and Canadian law enforcement agencies, several major international airline companies, and the Montego Bay Airport Authority took place in Montego Bay December to discuss airport operations. The purpose of the meeting was to review current airport operations, identify airport assets and challenges, determine operational gaps, develop a measurable strategic response to combat previously defined roadblocks, and enhance cooperation between international law enforcement partners, the airlines and the airport authority. Over the course of the two day meeting all objectives were met including a short list of immediately actionable items for all players. Future meetings and task force groups have been established for the purpose of resource de-confliction, information sharing and strategic planning development.

Document: Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Program and Budget Guide, Fiscal Year 2010

Program: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement

Program Objectives and Performance Indicators Enhance the abilities of Jamaica?s law enforcement agencies to detect and intercept shipments and detain traffickers.

• Increased interdiction activities, arrests of drug traffickers and ability to dismantle major trafficking organizations.
• Jamaica is able to participate in regional drug interdiction exercises, to promote counternarcotics cooperation in the Caribbean.

• Reform recommendations of the Ministry of National Security?s Strategic Review of the Jamaica Constabulary Force are implemented, including the ability to dismiss and prosecute corrupt police officers regardless of rank and vetting of both current officers and new recruits
• Jamaica is able to undertake thorough investigations into allegations of police corruption, regardless of rank, and creates a special prosecutor for public corruption cases.

Document: Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Program and Budget Guide, Fiscal Year 2010

Program: International Narcotics Control Economic Aid

FY 2010 Program Rule of Law Budget constraints severely limit the size and effectiveness of the Jamaican Judicial System. USG assistance will fund equipment and provide training to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution to prosecute complex drug cases. A particular focus will be on increasing officer?s capacity to prosecute money laundering and financial crimes cases and to develop forensic skills that will enable the DPP?s staff to execute the forfeiture of criminal assets. Anti-Corruption USG assistance will support the Mission?s Tripartite Anti-Corruption Initiative, a U.S.-led initiative which partners with the United Kingdom and Canada to bolster the Government of Jamaica?s ability to root out corruption. Funding will provide equipment, operational and manpower support, and training for the JCF?s Anti-Corruption Division. Similar assistance will also be provided to the Ombudsman National Anti-Corruption Agency and the Anti- Corruption Special Prosecutor.

Document: 820th Security Forces Group Trains with Jamaican Defence Forces

Program: Exercise

The mission, part of Operation Southern Partner which ends Saturday, focused on urban tactics, small team movements in built-up areas, building entry and clearing and dynamic target acquisition, said Capt. Don Bartholomew, 820th Security Forces Group operations officer.

"In small team movements, which are essential to almost all our operations, we try and standardize operating procedures," B Bartholomew said. "We took a look at their procedures and discussed the differences between how we conduct operations versus the way they do it."

Document: Arizona Medics go “Beyond the Horizon” to Help Jamaican people

Program: Humanitarian and Civic Assistance

More than 3,700 Jamaicans were given free medical, eye and dental care April 11-26 when 35 Guardmembers from Arizona´s 162nd Fighter Wing invested two weeks as part of United States Southern Command´s "Beyond the Horizon" humanitarian assistance exercise.
...

They split their time between three different sites; Albion Primary and Junior High, Retrieve All Age School, and Lottery All Age School, said the colonel. All locations were without many of the conveniences of modern technology.
...

The care provided ranged from simple check ups to diagnosing severe medical problems, pulling teeth and dispensing eye wear to people who otherwise would be legally blind.

Document: FY 2010 Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations

The United States will strengthen its partnership with Jamaica by providing assistance to address key social and economic issues that contribute to high levels of violent crime and transnational criminal activity. Priority goals are supporting anti-corruption; promoting greater transparency and good governance practices; fostering Jamaican participation in regional security, particularly in the counter-terrorism and counternarcotics areas; investing in people; promoting economic prosperity and sustainable development; enhancing the Jamaican Defense Forces’ (JDF) capability to protect its national territory, including its maritime borders; and countering organized illicit activities, including narcotics trafficking.

Peace and Security: U.S. assistance in Jamaica aims to advance peace and security by reducing the endemic crime and violence on the island. Assistance will be used to increase U.S. domestic security by improving Jamaica’s capacity to counter transnational crime and terrorism. One goal is to increase the professional capacity of the Jamaican law enforcement and security forces so that Jamaica can become a regional leader for security. U.S. agencies will continue to address the conditions that undermine peace and security by providing training, technical assistance, equipment, and materials to the appropriate security elements in Jamaica.

Broader U.S. assistance efforts will include interdiction; building investigative capacity to protect Jamaica’s borders; improving Jamaican law enforcement, counter-narcotics, and counter-terrorism capacity; and supporting Government of Jamaica (GOJ) anti-corruption efforts. Building on considerable traction with its community policing initiative and having developed strong partnership with the Ministry of National Security, the United States will continue to make substantial investments in building the capacity of both police and citizens to develop problem-solving partnerships. The United States will work collaboratively to assist the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in implementing the government’s police reform priorities, which in turn will bolster the prospects of the sustainable adoption of community policing.

U.S. programs focused on crime will engage communities and encourage them to increase their role in crime prevention. Assistance will strengthen civil society’s role in community transformation and in fostering partnerships with the police to manage conflict and fight crime at the community level. Security assistance will provide training and equipment to support the JDF’s efforts to secure its maritime borders, and enhance its interoperability with U.S. and international forces in order to participate in peacekeeping and coalition operations.

U.S. community policing activities complement the Government of Jamaica's Strategic Review Implementation Plan, which aims to reform the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to meet demands for citizen-focused and professional policing services. Additional FY 2010 funds will enable the mission to provide broader support, increasing reach and effectiveness of the JCF. Since a new five-year strategy to begin in FY 2010 is still in the design stage, indicators for FY 2010 have not been defined, and hence the target provided here is provisional. Higher results in 2007 were due to a differently structured program at that time, in which training aimed to expose a large number of police officers to basic community policing principles. Subsequent targets reflect changes in the program structure whereby more intensive, in-depth training is provided to a smaller group of dedicated officers in key rollout communities, increasing the capacity of the JCF and contributing to sustainability.

Governing Justly and Democratically: U.S. assistance, in partnership with Jamaica, will focus on combating corruption and crime, which fuel social instability. U.S. programs will contribute to enhancing the capability of key Jamaican agencies to investigate and successfully prosecute public and private sector corruption. The U.S. will provide critical assistance to the GOJ’s efforts to introduce and implement anticorruption reforms. Support for key short-term technical assistance in the GOJ’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the Customs Department, or the Anti-Corruption Branch of the JCF will take place as the opportunities arise. Anti-corruption assistance will also focus on raising corruption awareness and promoting a culture of lawfulness within society. Initiatives will include a public education campaign targeting youth populations through an integrated civic education program, which will build on current efforts to integrate civic education into the primary and secondary school curricula.

The United States will explore possibilities of harmonization with other donor's justice system efforts. Specific institutional capacity support may include training for judges, prosecutors, and police, as well as technical assistance to the Office of the Public Prosecutor, police, and other key elements in the judicial system. Further U.S. assistance may include training to successfully prepare and prosecute cases, with a focus on improving legislation regarding forfeiture of criminal assets.

As the main perpetrators of crime are Jamaica’s youth—particularly boys and young men—U.S. assistance will support programs that emphasize a youth-centric approach to crime and violence prevention, aimed at reversing the acceptance of violence and providing concrete alternatives to criminal activities. Specific activities will address at-risk youth populations starting at the elementary level, drawing on other activities in education and economic growth. The United States will partner with the GOJ, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations to implement programs that reawaken citizenship, promote a culture of lawfulness and compliance, enable and encourage youth to take on leadership roles within communities, and improve parenting skills. This will be complemented by programs that create 627 positive social space for youth within vulnerable communities.

Investing in People: The United States will collaborate with Jamaica’s Education Transformation program, aimed at reforming the educational system through increasing quality, efficiency, and equity across socioeconomic strata, between genders, and between mainstream and special needs students. U.S. assistance will contribute to a series of policy studies, public consultation, and workshops to forge a national consensus. The United States will to capitalize on the strengths of its Expanding Educational Horizons and Centers for Excellence in Teacher Training programs by providing training, technical assistance, and commodity support for rolling out proven educational technologies (especially for reading and math) across the island. In addition, U.S. assistance will support the Ministry of Education efforts to decentralize education administration and improve the quality of school management and classroom instruction at the primary level.

In order to sustain momentum gained on stabilizing the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among at-risk groups, U.S. assistance will focus on prevention programs by bolstering the capacities of key civil society actors. In addition, U.S. assistance will aim to strengthen coordinating mechanisms within the GOJ and among donor groups as well as support behavior change and outreach programs that target high-risk groups.

Economic Growth: U.S. assistance will support technical assistance that aims to reduce bottlenecks within the legislative and regulatory environment. Within the new political context, opportunities exist for funding activities that specifically address land policy and titling, tax policy and administration, access to credit for micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and tourism competitiveness. Continued streamlining of the approval process, as well as ensuring that the time and costs to starting a business remains competitive within the region, will be a focus of U.S. assistance programs.

Complementing the policy reform agenda process will be initiatives that strengthen private sector competitiveness and reduce costs associated with doing business in Jamaica. Reducing the cost of energy will be a critical factor in ensuring that Jamaica is able to attract and retain foreign investment. The United States will leverage assistance packages to promote the further development of alternative and renewable energy resources.

The declining importance of agriculture within the economy is an indication that the sector is underperforming and not taking full advantage of the production potential of strategic high value crops. As a result, U.S. assistance will seek to develop programs that diversify production towards alternative staples, high value vegetables, condiments, and selected cash crops such as coffee and cocoa. This process will require activities that focus on increasing access to market information and financial services, in addition to exposing Jamaican farmers to improved production, value-added, and disaster mitigation practices. U.S. assistance will also contribute to the expansion of improved production technologies across the island as a means of increasing production and discouraging environmentally damaging hillside farming practices. U.S. programs will seek an integrated approach in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and bauxite mining aimed at achieving sustainable development through environmentally friendly means.

Document: Southern Partnership Station Begins Training in Jamaica

Program: Exercises

High speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) arrived here for the last of two instruction evolutions in Jamaica and the final port visit for Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2008-2009.

Training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group began their courses today with Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) members. The courses provide instruction in a variety of fields such as port security, physical security, boarding officer, small boat operations, small boat repair, urban raid tactics, armed sentry, search and rescue planning and junior enlisted leadership.

Document: International Narcotics Control Strategy Report

Bilateral Cooperation. There is robust cooperation between U.S. and GOJ officials. In 2008, the U.S provided training and material support to elements of the JCF and JDF to strengthen their counternarcotics, and anti-corruption capabilities and improve the investigation, arrest and prosecution of organized crime. The U.S assisted the GOJ with vetting of specialized units within the JCF. The Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team (JFAT) received specialized training, equipment, guidance and operational support from the U.S. Marshals permanently stationed in Kingston. In 2008, the U.S. Marshals opened 80 new cases and closed 132 cases involving U.S. fugitives. Jamaican authorities made 14 arrests, 15 extraditions and 8 deportations during the year. In mid-2008, the USG-funded, Kingston-based Airport Interdiction Task Force continued operations and was instrumental in the increase in cocaine seizures.

The GOJ participated in joint deployments with the USG in Jamaican waters during 2008 under the auspices of "Operation Riptide," which allow both nations to conduct law enforcement operations within each other’s maritime zones and is authorized under the Joint Jamaica-United States Maritime Cooperation Agreement. The JDF also continued to work with the USG’s Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) in 2008 to disrupt maritime trafficking. JDF and JCF elements participated in the DEA-led regional exercise "All-Inclusive." JDF Coast Guard personnel participated in a number of maritime law enforcement, seamanship and specialized technical resident courses in the U.S. in 2008.

Multilateral Cooperation. In 2008 multi-nationals (GOJ, U.S., United Kingdom and Canada) shifted focus to assist the GOJ as it begins implementation of the 124 recommendations of the Police Strategic Review. An additional multi-lateral priority is to assist the Anti-Corruption Branch tackle corruption among senior police officers. The U.S. continues to support the Mini-Dublin Group, and reinvigorated cooperation with the UK and Canada to prevent duplication of efforts and ensure the most effective use of our combined counternarcotics resources.

Document: Southern Partnership Station Arrives in Jamaica

Program: Exercises

High speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) arrived in Jamaica Jan. 4 for the first of two instruction evolutions in Jamaica during Southern Partnership Station (SPS).

Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission goal is primarily information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region.

Training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group began their courses today with Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) members. The courses provide instruction in a variety of fields such as land navigation, port security, waterborne security operations, small boat repair and maritime interdiction operations.