The head of the Customs Customs Unit of Guyana (Canu), James Singh, denounced on Tuesday that most of the drug circulating in the country arrives from Venezuela and that the Guyanés territory works more and more as a scale for international smuggling.
Singh explained that cocaine shipments that travel through Guyana no longer point to North America but now the posters redirect their shipments to Europe and Western Africa.
“Previously we have seen drugs enter Guyana to North America. Recently, however, there has been a change. Now drugs are directed to Western Africa and Europe,” said the official in a statement released by the Department of Public Information.
The head of the Canu clarified that Guyana does not produce cocaine, but stressed that the country’s location makes it a strategic point for drug trafficking networks. He pointed out that the increase in patrols and controls in the Caribbean made the route to the United States more dangerous, so traffickers opt for alternative corridors.
Guyana intensifies anti -drug fight with international support
Guyanese authorities have intercepted smuggling attempts through low -height flights, maritime containers, ships of different sizes and even semi -submented ships designed to dodge the radars.
“They arrive from Venezuela by plane or boat. It does not help (Venezuela) be a narco -speaking and claim two thirds of our territory,” said Singh, referring to the historical dispute over the Esequibo.
That territory of approximately 160,000 square kilometers – almost two thirds of Guyana – remains a source of tensions with Venezuela, which has claimed it for more than a century.
Singh said that CANU has intensified its operations and completed relevant seizures thanks to international cooperation and intelligence exchange.
“We cannot fight alone. We fight an enemy on different fronts. It is a network, so alliances are key,” he said.
Guyana collaborates with the United States DEA and with security agencies from the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, France and Surinam.
Guyana President Irfaan Ali, had already requested in 2023 more international support and “resources” to face the drug loaded by drugs that fly over and land on clandestine clues.
That request came a few days after the authorities found 4.5 tons of cocaine buried in an illegal track in region one. It was the greatest drug seizure in the history of Guyana, valued at 200 million dollars.