Financial Crime World

ST KITTS AND NEVIS LAGS BEHIND IN CONTROL OF CONTROLLED CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES

Country Falling Short in Efforts to Control Controlled Chemical Substances

Basseterre, St. Kitts - The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is facing challenges in its efforts to control controlled chemical substances, a critical component of the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.

Key Findings

  • The country does not utilize the International Narcotics Control Board’s (INCB) Pre-Export Notification (PEN) Online system nor has it established alternative mechanisms to timely respond to pre-export notifications of controlled chemical substances made by other states.
  • St. Kitts and Nevis is not utilizing the INCB’s Precursor Incident Communication System (PICS), a vital tool for facilitating information exchange on controlled chemical substances.
  • The country lacks regulatory frameworks to govern the acquisition of substances subject to international control for medical and scientific purposes.

Areas Requiring Improvement

  • Training: There is a need for drug control personnel and researchers to receive training on the identification and handling of precursors and other controlled chemical substances. Currently, there are no budgetary mechanisms in place to acquire necessary equipment and supplies.
  • Regulatory Frameworks: The country lacks regulatory frameworks to govern the acquisition of substances subject to international control for medical and scientific purposes.
  • License Issuance and Inspections: St. Kitts and Nevis does not issue licenses to manufacturers or distributors authorizing the handling of pharmaceutical products containing precursor substances, narcotics, or psychotropic substances. Regular inspections or audits of establishments authorized to handle these products are also non-existent.

Concerns

  • Diversion Prevention: The country’s lack of effort in preventing diversion of controlled pharmaceutical products containing narcotic drugs and/or psychotropic substances is a major concern.
  • Penalties for Infractions: The penalties for infractions or violations by individuals or corporations handling such products are outdated, with the last update being in 2015.

Recommendations

  • Strengthen national capacity to prevent trade in and diversion of materials and equipment for illicit production or manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
  • Offer periodic training programs for personnel responsible for preventing such activities.
  • Share information with other regional or global systems on the diversion of such materials.

Positive Step Forward

  • The Ministry of Health’s use of the INCB’s International Import and Export Authorization System (I2ES) is a positive step forward, but more needs to be done to strengthen control measures and prevent the diversion of controlled pharmaceutical products.

Call to Action

The government has been urged to take immediate action to address these shortcomings and ensure the effective control of controlled chemical substances in the country.