SECURITY Minister Derrick Smith yesterday underlined his government’s commitment to continue the fight against the illegal narcotics trade started by the previous People’s National Party administration.

Jamaica was recently listed among the major drug trans-shipment countries by the US State Department and yesterday Smith, who gave the main address at the narcotics investigation graduation ceremony for regional law enforcement officers at the Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre in Twickenham Park, St Catherine, said his ministry would work to remove Jamaica from that list.

“A change of administration does not in any way indicate a change of course in relation to the country’s fight against the narcotics trade. In fact, what it means is full speed ahead,” Smith said. “We are committed to not only continuing this fight against the drug trade but also to move it to a higher level,” added the security minister.

Smith said that in order for the fight against the illegal drugs to make more headway, the countries whose citizens purchase most of the narcotics need to increase their aid to the region.

“We are urging these countries that, in light of the danger to them and their citizens, they should increase their support, both in terms of access to more efficient tools to curtail this trade as well as the funding that we need to provide legal and more productive alternatives to drugs especially among our young people,” Smith said.

Approximately 120 metric tonnes of cocaine pass through Jamaica each year.