Eleven employees of the Economic Control Service have been granted additional investigative powers. They have been sworn in as Special Police Officers, enabling them to take firmer action during inspections of businesses requiring licences and in cases of economic violations established during inspections.
Eleven employees of the Economic Control Service were sworn in as Special Police Officers on Friday, 21 August 2026, by Minister Harish Monorath of Justice and Security. This step gives the inspectors additional powers, allowing them greater scope to act independently during inspections and investigations.
According to the information provided, this is the first group of inspectors from the Economic Control Service to be sworn in as Special Police Officers in approximately eleven years. The ceremony took place in the minister’s meeting room. The swearing-in is intended to strengthen the service’s operational capacity.
The new powers are particularly important for inspections of businesses conducting activities for which a licence is required. When a violation is established during such an inspection, the sworn-in employees may draw up an official report themselves. The documents can then be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service for further handling.
Economic Control Service gains more powers
The Economic Control Service has a broad range of duties. Among other things, the service monitors prices, licences, product expiry dates, weighing instruments and possible smuggling practices. Consumer complaints are also investigated, and checks are carried out to determine whether entrepreneurs comply with applicable economic laws and regulations. More information about these duties can be found on the official page of the Economic Control Service.
By granting more inspectors formal investigative powers, the service can respond more quickly when criminal offences are suspected during inspections. This may prevent another investigative agency from having to be called in first for every subsequent step. The expectation is that violations can therefore be recorded more quickly and cases handled more purposefully.
Greater enforcement capacity during business inspections
The strengthening comes at a time when the ECD regularly conducts inspections at supermarkets and other businesses. Previous operations have identified, among other issues, problems with price labelling, cash register systems, expired products, uncertified scales and goods whose importation or origin was not in order.
Key News previously reported on ECD inspections in Paramaribo and Brokopondo, where, among other things, smuggled goods, faulty cash register systems and uncertified scales were found. In several cases, entrepreneurs were warned, goods were confiscated and official reports were drawn up.
The eleven inspectors can now record violations themselves and forward them to the Public Prosecution Service.
Special Police Officer powers focused on specific field of work
The status of Special Police Officer does not mean that the employees are assigned the same general duties as regular police officers. Their powers are linked to the specific field of work for which they have been appointed and to the legislation they supervise. This enables them to act more specifically within their inspection role when a suspected violation is identified.
For entrepreneurs, the expansion means that inspections by the Economic Control Service are not solely administrative in nature. Where there are sufficient grounds, criminal proceedings can follow more quickly after a violation is established. Proper licences, clear price labelling and compliance with other legal requirements therefore remain important.
Cooperation between ECD and judicial authorities strengthened
The government expects that the swearing-in will also strengthen cooperation between the Economic Control Service, the Ministry of Justice and Security, and the Public Prosecution Service. By better aligning inspections, the recording of violations and the forwarding of official reports, enforcement is expected to become more efficient and effective.
For consumers, a stronger Economic Control Service may be particularly noticeable in oversight of fair prices, correct weights, safe products and compliance with licensing conditions. The actual impact will depend on the use of the new powers and the available capacity to conduct inspections in Paramaribo and the districts.
Oversight of compliance with economic regulations
In any event, the swearing-in of the eleven employees gives the ECD additional legal scope. The coming period will have to show to what extent this strengthening actually results in faster enforcement and greater compliance by businesses falling under the service’s supervision.
