“This is an intention to bring into the realm of law the field of offences relating to synthetic substances and all other substances that are narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and stimulants that have not yet been covered by our legislation,” said Minister Benn. He added that “more and more” synthetic drugs are entering the country and their significant increase is noticeable. People found with synthetic drugs that had not yet been taken under Guyana`s laws will now face charges and face trial as the National Assembly passed the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control Amendment) Act No. 2 on Monday. The U.S. State Department`s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) works to keep Americans safe at home. by combating international crime. illicit drugs and instability abroad. INL helps countries achieve justice and equity by strengthening their police, judicial and law enforcement systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S.
shores. The government has added ecstasy to the list of psychotropic substances whose possession or use is illegal without a special licence. He also criticized the main opposition party in parliament for failing to recognize the importance of taking such a preventive measure against widespread drug use. Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (control) (amendment) (No. 2) aims to control the possession of new and emerging psychotropic substances, also known as synthetic drugs, which are used in particular by young people. The Customs Drug Control Unit (CANU) has announced that these synthetic drugs are increasingly being distributed to schoolchildren. Also known as “controlled substance analogues,” these drugs are synthetic creations chemically designed to simulate the effects of illicit substances such as opium, cannabis, heroin and cocaine. After narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (control) (amendments to the second list) methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), the scientific name of ecstasy would be item 3A of the list of psychotropic substances, making it a narcotic whose possession is strictly controlled by Guyana`s law. The Order is a response to a recent series of cases related to the possession and sale of ecstasy and a range of synthetic drugs that are not expressly prohibited by current legislation. Government MP and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson supported the bill, which noted that the problem of synthetic drugs used by young people is a global phenomenon.
Some of the new synthetic drugs, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, are; Methamphetamine, non-medical use of ketamine, fentanyl, new “ecstasy” and crystalline MDMA. The explanatory memorandum states that this insertion covers all new compounds of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, in particular synthetic substances having a similar chemical and structural composition and a similar or stronger stimulating, depressant or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system than the substances currently prohibited by the main act. In addition to the College`s proposal, Home Secretary Robeson Benn has also introduced a bill in the Assembly to explicitly criminalize the possession and use of these synthetic drugs. Experts say there is a loophole in the existing law, as it only provides for marijuana and cocaine and not ecstasy and methamphetamines, which are increasingly smuggled into Guyana and are very popular among young people. “The amendment aims to control the possession and use of new and emerging psychotropic substances, also known as `synthetic drugs,` which are used in particular by youth,” the bill says. As all new types of drugs will be covered by this legislation and possession and trafficking will result in penalties, Minister Ramson said the government is “paying attention to the protection of young people in this country.” In September 2018, Lesley Ramlall, then deputy head of the Customs Drug Control Unit (UNAC), noted that investigations had led to the discovery of recreational ecstasy in five schools in regions three and four. Section two of the main law was amended by inserting immediately after the definition of coca leaves, an analogue of the control substance. It is a substance which is structurally chemically similar to the substances listed in the first and second lists and which produces a stimulating, depressant and hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system which is substantially comparable to or superior to the stimulating, smoking and hallucinogenic effect of the substances listed in the first and second lists`.
The United States works to promote a democratic and stable Guyana that protects the security of citizens by strengthening respect for the rule of law. INL assistance under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative in Guyana aims to strengthen the integrity and capacity of Guyana`s criminal justice system, including the police, prosecutors and judges, to prevent cocaine trafficking and to improve the security of citizens. The bill, introduced by Home Secretary Robeson Benn, MP, has received the blessing of the parliamentary opposition. Guyana is a transit country for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and West Africa. Guyana faces major challenges: weak and sometimes corrupt democratic institutions, underdeveloped infrastructure and poverty. The amendment also inserts “analogue of control substance” in the definition of narcotic drugs. Similarly, in October 2019, Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty upheld a motion to dismiss the case against Samuel Bruce and Kelder Halley on charges of possession of ecstasy for trafficking. In the complaint, attorney Bernard DaSilva argued that prosecutors had failed to prove that ecstasy was a prohibited drug under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act.
The CANU official stressed that ecstasy is not only used by young people, but also by “rich” individuals in society. He explained that many people use the drug for sexual enhancement and that its use has seeped into the school system. In 2019, thanks to INL`s commitment, Guyana completed the first successful extradition of refugees to the United States in nearly 20 years. The extradition of a murder suspect to the United States has created a model of future bilateral cooperation that will reduce Guyana`s appeal as a haven for criminals. Meanwhile, all opposition speakers supported the amendment of the law, calling it necessary. Clause 2 seeks to amend section 2 of the main act by inserting a definition of “analogues of controlled substances” and amending the definition of narcotics to include analogues of controlled substances. “This ensures that persons in possession of these substances are prosecuted and prosecuted accordingly,” the statement read. A month earlier, in August 2019, Darrel John, charged with possession of ecstasy, was released by Judge Leron Daly, who found that the Guyanese police had failed to prove that the substance he had in his possession was in fact a narcotic.