Law enforcement agencies in the Marshall Islands participated in a Narcotics Investigation Course from August 12-16. The course was designed to equip officers with the knowledge and skills to combat drug trafficking and keep our communities safe.
It was led by experts from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The training brought together officers from various agencies, including the Marshall Islands Police Department, Attorney General’s Office, Majuro Atoll Local Government Police, Customs, Postal Service, Ports Authority, and Immigration.
Together, they learned essential tactics to fight the drug trade to include:
- Stopping drugs in the mail: Officers learned how to spot suspicious packages and prevent illegal drugs from entering the country through the postal system.
- Planning successful operations: The course taught officers how to plan and safely execute effective operations to disrupt drug trafficking networks.
- Finding hidden drugs: Officers learned advanced techniques to find drugs hidden in containers, ships, and vehicles.
- Surveillance techniques and interviewing skills: The training covered surveillance methods and interviewing techniques to assist in evidence and information gathering.
- Medical care and officer safety: Officers learned to provide first aid and protect themselves during dangerous situations.
- In addition, the instructors demonstrated how to effectively utilize a TruNarc. This handheld narcotics analyzer was donated by the Australian Federal Police and uses laser technology to quickly and accurately identify different types of drugs. It is vital that the officers know the type of illegal substance they are handling so they can safely process the drug into evidence.
This comprehensive training program significantly enhanced the ability of Marshall Islands law enforcement community to combat drug trafficking, according to workshop sponsors. Working together and using the latest technology, makes the Marshall Islands safer, and protects young people from dangerous drugs, said a release about the program.
This course was supported by the US Embassy Majuro and facilitated by the US Indo-Pacific Command, Joint Interagency Task Force-West.