WILLEMSTAD - Gun-related crime and human trafficking are among the biggest crime problems in the Caribbean region. This became clear during the second regional networking meeting for crime analysts, recently held in Curaçao. The Public Prosecutor's Office announced today that over forty analysts from across the Caribbean region gathered for three days to strengthen cooperation between police forces. Discussions also focused on the future. According to experts, criminal threats from Venezuela are expected to continue in the coming years. Additionally, the country will increasingly rely on illegal activities such as drug trafficking and human trafficking as sources of income. Furthermore, an increase in European involvement in the global cocaine trade is anticipated. 

Due to the success of the first meeting, which took place last year in Sint Maarten, the College of Police Chiefs of the four police forces in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands decided to repeat this event because of the importance of regional cooperation. “The challenges we face are complex and interconnected. They require a joint and coordinated approach,” said Raymond Ellis, the Chief of Police of Curaçao, in his opening speech. Participating countries and areas included Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Netherlands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Suriname, and the Netherlands.