Jamaica will become the first Caribbean country to establish a Freeport Terminal Unit. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Jamaica and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

 The Freeport Terminal Unit which will be located in Montego Bay, is expected to help improve port security and prevent lawful maritime cargo containers from being used for unlawful purposes such as drug trafficking, smuggling of goods tax evasion and possible terrorist acts.

 The MOU was signed at the Ministry of Finance yesterday (November 27, 2012) by Minister of National Security Hon. Peter Bunting, Minister of Finance and Planning Hon. Peter Phillips, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Transport Works and Housing Hon. Morais Guy as well as United States Ambassador Her Excellency Pamela Bridgewater and High Commissioner of Canada, His Excellency Robert Ready.

 Minister of National Security Peter Bunting, who spoke at the signing, welcomed the initiative, saying it is almost impossible to have enough resources to prevent transnational criminal organizations by just patrol and deterrent type work.

 Minister Bunting said this work will need to be intelligence led and driven.

“Every way that we can improve our capability in that area is going to be key in increasing our level of success going forward” Minister Bunting said.

 The National Security Minister also used the opportunity to thank the international missions who partnered with the Jamaican Government for the initiative.

“I look forward to this particular initiative increasing our success in combating narcotics trafficking, illicit smuggling and transnational crime” he said.

Similar Freeport Terminal Units are fully operational in Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Paraguay.