Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang says organised crime is a major setback for national development and a hindrance to inclusive economic growth.

He added that the development of a national strategy to combat organised crime is imperative and will take the island one step closer to realising Plan Secure Jamaica, by tackling “key players who are often well-educated, tech-savvy young males.”

“Plan Secure Jamaica is the roadmap for creating a safe, secure, cohesive and just society. In other words, we are creating an environment for sustained crime reduction and increased economic growth and prosperity,” explained Chang.

While speaking at a technical workshop in Montego Bay, St James, where he delivered opening remarks to signal the launch of the Strategy’s development, Chang reiterated the Government’s commitment to disrupting, deterring, detecting, and prosecuting criminal elements involved in both domestic and transnational organised crime.

“Our national response to organised crime is a priority for the Government,” said Chang, as he charged participants in the workshop to consider emerging organised criminal activities such as Trafficking in Persons, cybercrimes, extortion and the illicit guns for drugs and guns for food trade.

“Jamaica will not be a safe haven for organised criminal groups. I can assure you that this national strategy will receive the highest level of support from the government, even as we work collectively to enhance our capacity to identify and analyse organised crime threats and make our country a safe place to live, work, do business and retire in prosperity”, concluded Chang.

Meanwhile the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said for more than two decades, transnational organised crime remains a complex phenomenon that cannot be fought by any one State in isolation.

According to the global body, organised criminal groups and their modi operandi evolve rapidly as a result of structural changes at the national and international levels are generally attracted to new pockets of political instability and are often quick to exploit new illicit business opportunities and spaces left void of government control.

The development of the National Organised Crime Strategy is aligned to Jamaica's obligations under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC), and promotes cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organised crime more effectively. Jamaica will be the first country in the Caribbean to work with the UNODC to develop an organised crime strategy.

The Strategy’s development is spearheaded by a technical working group jointly chaired by the Ministry of National Security, Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency. It also comprises representatives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Financial Investigations Division, the Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Custom Agency, Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency and The University of the West Indies.