By Latoya Giles President Donald Ramotar yesterday insisted that Guyana must not and will not become a safe haven for criminals.The President made the statement in light of the recent news which surfaced that more than 20 gangsters were busted in New York for drug trafficking and other offenses, with some of the shipments passing through Guyana.The New York Mafia reportedly conspired with the Italian syndicate to traffic cocaine and heroin stashed in shipments of pineapples, frozen fish and other food.President Donald RamotarPresident Ramotar was at the time speaking at the Commissioning Parade for the Standard Officers Course #46, held at Camp Ayanganna. According to the Head of State, he has instructed the Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee to write to the United States and request information that they probably have.“We have also extended to them our full cooperation with dealing on the matter. This country will not become a safe haven for criminals,” President Ramotar stressed.Opposition Leader David Granger, along with Members of Parliament Joe Harmon and Winston Felix immediately met with Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier Mark Phillips following the revelations.Granger told the media yesterday that the creation of a link between local narco traffickers and major international drug lords is more than a dangerous development.According to the Opposition Leader they had asked for the meeting with the Chief of Staff in light of the grave reports about linkages between Guyanese narco traffickers with the Italian mafia. He said that his party felt that it is a situation that requires immediate and forceful reaction by the government.Discussed in the meeting was the opposition’s willingness to lending support in whatever regard.? Granger said that they can help strengthen the technical arm of the GDF,Wholesale Jerseys Cheap, particularly aviation, coastguard and land assets to interdict narcotics and guns coming into Guyana.Granger further noted that the Chief of Staff has stated his intention to have discussions with his officers. He also disclosed that the Chief of Staff has already taken the guide from the Disciplined Services Commission, which calls for the strengthening of the Force’s technical arms.Granger stressed that there is need for the army to have more assets to help with the sea and aviation aspects of the force since they are largely insufficient to go after traffickers and protect Guyana’s borders.He believes too that the absence of a National Drug Strategy master plan is largely responsible for these types of occurrences.“There is no valid national drug strategy master plan. It expired in 2009 and the administration appears to be in no hurry to implement a new plan” he said, adding that “there is no justification for the absence of such a plan for five years.”Granger recalled that during the period 2000 and 2008 well known traffickers had brought sophisticated equipment into Guyana which led to the death of many Guyanese.He believes that there is a linkage between international drug lords and local traffickers and that large amount of drugs are being smuggled in and out of Guyana.On Tuesday,Authentic Jerseys Cheap, news surfaced that more than 20 gangsters were busted in New York for drug trafficking and other offences.The New York Mafia reportedly conspired with the Italian syndicate to traffic cocaine and heroin stashed in shipments of pineapples,Cheap Jerseys, frozen fish and other food.The shipments traveled through ports in Guyana, where Mexican drug cartel members facilitated deliveries, prosecutors said. The raids targeted a network of drug smuggling that stretched from Guyana to Italy to Malaysia to the United States.An undercover agent recorded alleged Gambino associate,China Jerseys Wholesale, Franco Lupoi, and others plotting to transport 500 kilograms of cocaine hidden in shipments of frozen fish or pineapples, according to court documents.? Prosecutors found $7 million worth of cocaine hidden in crates of pineapples and coconut milk.In September 2012,Cheap NBA Jerseys Wholesale, Lupoi was recorded explaining to an undercover agent that he had contacts in Guyana who could arrange the shipment of cocaine to his contacts in Italy,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, court records state.