US names four Caribbean nations as major drug-producing countries

The United States has listed Jamaica, The Bahamas, Belize, and Haiti as major drug transit or major illicit drug-producing countries for the fiscal year 2025.

In a statement, President Joe Biden highlighted the inclusion of these four Caribbean nations, along with other countries, noting their significant role in drug trafficking and the production of precursor chemicals that impact the United States.

The president clarified that being named on the list does not reflect the government’s counter-narcotic efforts or cooperation with the U.S., emphasizing that “the list is not a sanction or penalty.” Instead, it is a result of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that facilitate the transit or production of drugs or precursor chemicals, even in countries that have implemented strong law enforcement and narcotics control measures.