Intervention by Lieutenant Colonel Farah Díaz Montero, Head of Department of the International Relations Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, during the 34th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
Item 6d) Other issues related to crime prevention and criminal justice.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba has not been exempt from the complexities observed in the region in the area of transnational crime, and although it has not been possible to basify organized crime, the impact of its activities coming from abroad can be seen, such as illicit drug trafficking, money laundering, illicit trafficking of migrants, trafficking of persons, illegal trafficking of currency and precious metals, counterfeiting of currency, payment instruments, migratory documents and others.
The complexity in this area is exacerbated by the interrelation of some of these activities, and their increase has been consubstantial with the increase in the flow of emigrants and residents who travel frequently to other countries, as well as the occasional participation of foreign visitors.
For Cuba, it is a priority to continue improving the training of our law enforcement forces in the fight against transnational organized crime, in order to prepare ourselves for the impacts of these activities, taking as a guide the experiences of other countries with complex situations, and adapting them to the scenarios that our nation is experiencing.
Mr. President,
Based on the cooperation relations maintained with counterpart services, we are consolidating the exchange of information on detected cases, the execution of cooperative investigations and support for judicial assistance, as well as the location and delivery of foreigners who are the object of international searches.
For my country, it is a priority to continue strengthening international cooperation through the establishment of fast, secure and “real time” communication channels to confront transnational crime, as well as the adoption of bilateral agreements that regulate and normalize these exchanges.
In Cuba, crime prevention is multifactorial, coordinated between the Ministries of the Interior, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Public Health, Education, the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic and the General Customs of the Republic, which coordinate the interests and efforts among the bodies, agencies and other national institutions related to crime prevention and criminal justice, through programs, plans and measures aimed at improving control, prevention, prophylaxis, surveillance, repression and rehabilitation procedures.
Mr. President:
Cuba reiterates its commitments as a State Party to the international conventions adopted to confront Transnational Organized Crime and their complementary Protocols, as well as to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the three conventions related to illicit drug trafficking, on the basis of which it complies with the commitments assumed in this area and promotes cooperation with the rest of the member countries.
Thank you very much.