SECURITY FORCES TO CO-OPERATE IN DRUGS WAR

KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 31 (Reuters) - Security forces in the Caribbean plan
to set up a joint co-ordination unit as part of greater co-operation in the
fight against illegal narcotics, according to the head of Jamaica's military.

They will share assets, personnel, information and intelligence, said Rear
Admiral Peter Bailey, quoted by the Caribbean News Agency on Sunday.

The idea was put forward at a security conference this week involving
police and military chiefs from 11 Caribbean countries as well as the U.S.
military's Southern Command, which oversees U.S. operations in Latin
America and the Caribbean.

Miami-based Southern Command is carving out a leading role for the U.S.
military in combating the flow of drugs from Latin America to the United
States.

U.S. anti-drugs officials say traffickers have stepped up use of smuggling
routes through the Caribbean over the past year but the small nations of
the region say their resources are stretched in fighting the scourge.

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Checked-by: Mike Gogulski