Saturday, 15 September 2007
Jamaica has again been included in the US Government's list of major drug transit and producing countries.
According to the Associated Press, the list was sent to Congress Friday and will be officially released by the State Department on Monday.
Countries on the list can be subject to punitive measures from the United States.
The report concludes that the same 20 countries as in 2006 are the world's leading producers or transit points for drugs.
Apart from Jamaica, other regional countries listed are the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Under U.S. law, countries on that list found to have demonstrably failed in efforts to combat the spread of illicit narcotics may be punished with cut-offs in certain aid.
For the third year in a row, only Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and Venezuela were identified as having met that failing standard.
Venezuela is accused of failing to take steps to curb the transit of narcotics through its soil to the United States and Europe.
The report says Bolivia made some progress last year despite a continued strong showing of traditional coca production.