WESTERN BUREAU – A high-ranking civil servant in the national security ministry is the latest to point to the linkages between corrupt cops, government employees, the public sector and the illegal drug trade.

“Cocaine passes through Jamaica from South America to markets in North America and Europe. The reverse trade brings in guns,” said the permanent secretary in the national security ministry Gilbert Scott. “The drug trade, estimated at some 100 to 120 metric tonnes of cocaine transshipped through Jamaica annually, is facilitated through the corruption of institutions including law enforcement, state employees and private sector interests. Some of our critical institutions have come under threat as evidenced by recent death threats against members of the judiciary, the police and other public officials.”

Scott, who was addressing a group of African American judges and lawyers in Negril Monday night, did not elaborate at the time, but later told the Observer that the police have been steadily gathering information that will break the back of the illicit drug trade.

“The security forces are collecting intelligence and that intelligence is being converted to action (arrests),” he said.

Over the past four months, at least 10 alleged drug barons have been arrested and charged. Some of them are now the subject of extradition hearings.

Scott’s comments about the corruption that helps the drug trade to thrive is just the latest from out of the security ministry. In his May contribution to the sectoral debate, national security minister Peter Phillips lashed out at his colleagues in the House who have links to the illegal drug trade. He did not name names, but urged politicians to shun criminals and drug dealers.

His comments came on the heels of a warning by police chief Francis Forbes that there were emerging strategic alliances between drug cartels and politicians in the Caribbean. At the time, the top cop also warned political parties to keep a watchful eye on who funds their activities.

During his address on Monday, Scott stressed the collaborative work being done by regional governments in the fight against the drug trade and other crimes.

“In recognition of our peculiar vulnerability to the international crime network, Caricom Heads of Government established a Regional Task Force on Crime and Security back in 2001,” he noted.

The task force, he said, has come up with a number of excellent recommendations and is now working on implementing the most critical ones.

These, the permanent secretary said, include strengthening border control measures and strengthening measures for gathering and sharing information.

The six-day Jamaican Sunset Continuing Legal Education meeting, which was being staged in conjunction with the Louisiana Judicial Council/National Bar Association, ended yesterday.