The operations of the Strategic Services Agency, a key tool in the fight against crime, terrorism and drug trafficking, have been catapulted into the spotlight after the Prime Minister made startling claims of the agency being infiltrated by a cult which was stockpiling weapons and ammunition on a mission to overthrow the government.
The claims against the personnel of the usually clandestine agency threaten to erode public trust and confidence and destroy the working relationships with international agencies.
Newsday editor Darren Bahaw contacted the first director of the organisation retired deputy commissioner of police Lance Selman to solicit his views on the purpose of the agency and how he felt about the claims made by the Prime Minister in Parliament on July 3.
Selman, 84, who severed for three years from 1996-1999 had this to say:
Purpose of the SSA
The Strategic Services Agency (SSA) was originally established by Act No. 24 of 1995.
The mid-nineties was the period in which the crime of illegal trafficking in drugs, particularly cocaine, in this part of the world had become a huge problem internationally and was spreading rapidly.
Illegal drug trafficking introduced many new elements to the crime challenge: it was a cross-border crime which required an unprecedented number of clandestine-type actions and structures.
For example, laboratories in Central and South America require chemicals and like specialists: clandestine laboratories, transport of the product over land, then across the sea, stopping at several ports, in-country contacts and organisations to ensure undetected passage.
The organisations needed attorneys and accountants to advise on money laundering methodologies, Customs contacts, immigration contacts to facilitate people/courier movements, et al, airport staff, airline staff and political contacts etc.
Violence increased, guns became currency and so on. All this meant that a growing number of departments and officials had to be brought on board. The international community approach was to encourage and urge countries to develop specific structures and a comprehensive coordinated plan to address the problem.
This new and complex crime required several new approaches, including the cooperation of banks and the sensitisation of the Judiciary.
The foregoing is just a sample of the activities involved and the government action required to combat it.
For uniformity of action and exchange of ideas, governments were urged to sign and ratify conventions (such as the 1988 Vienna Convention) to establish new institutions and agree to regular evaluations as well as develop specific anti-trafficking country plans for implementation.
The SSA was established to monitor the country's overall plan and provide assistance and support as necessary for the effective implementation of that plan.
Also to liaise with friendly countries to contribute to the successful implementation of the drug supply reduction plan. Note that this does not include the drug demand reduction side.
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