High poverty, low-paying jobs luring Guyanese into drug trade -US Govt

Apr 23, 2025 News

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…says authorities often drop charges, do not conduct serious investigations

Kaieteur News- High poverty and low-paying jobs in the public sector have led many Guyanese into the narcotics trade, which contributes significantly to increased crime and corruption, the United States government has said.

In its 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), the US Department of State noted that in 2024, Guyana seized more than four metric tons (MT) of cocaine, in cooperation with US law enforcement, at an airstrip near its border with Venezuela – the largest drug seizure in Guyana’s history – and interdicted one semi-submersible off Guyana’s coast with 2.3 MT of cocaine. “Despite growing oil wealth and the government’s increased efforts, the public sector – including law enforcement and customs officials – remains underpaid. Coupled with a lack of adequate resources and shortcomings in the legal system, this allows traffickers to exploit government systems and move illicit drugs through Guyana,” the report stated.

The US Department of State said that the government can fight drug trafficking by enhancing law enforcement and customs capability through port security improvements, intelligence operations with regional and international partners, implementing stronger anti-corruption measures, and strengthening its legislation relating to drug trafficking sentencing, to make it less attractive.

The report noted that as a matter of policy, the Government of Guyana does not encourage or facilitate the illicit production or distribution of narcotics, psychotropic drugs, or other controlled substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions.

However, the US said corruption in Guyana poses a significant obstacle to its efforts to combat drug trafficking. “Corruption within law enforcement, bribery, and nepotism in the public sector and political entities further complicate the fight against drug trafficking,” the US report stated.  The report added: “Authorities often drop charges or never file them and do not conduct serious investigations; traffickers are able to evade prosecution. Additionally, the economic appeal of the drug trade in Guyana, with its high poverty rate and low-paying public sector jobs, leads individuals to become involved in illicit activities and hinders efforts to curb trafficking. In two separate incidents in July, four GDF officers were charged with trafficking a total of 213 kilograms of cannabis. “

The report said that marijuana is the most used and produced drug in Guyana, and the country remains a major transhipment point for cocaine trafficking. In 2024, the United States and Guyana’s Joint Interagency Task Force, including its Defense Force (GDF), collaborated to seize 4.4 MT of cocaine worth approximately $195,000,000 – the country’s largest ever drug seizure – and the interception of a self-propelled semi- submersible (SPSS) approximately 150 miles off the coast of Guyana with 2.3 MT of cocaine. Authorities also found a low-profile vessel (LPV), empty and abandoned, in the waterways near Port Kaituma, near the Venezuelan border. As of October, no arrests had been made, and the investigation was ongoing.

These two events resulted in a huge increase in cocaine seizures for the period of January through September 2024 – 6,700 kilograms (kg) versus 62 kg for the same period in 2023. Marijuana seizures for 2024 totalled 1.4 MT, versus 1.1 MT for the same period in 2023. Methamphetamine was a distant third for quantity of drugs seized in 2024 (.06 kg).

During the budget debates back in January, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn had told the National Assembly that the drug trafficking situation here is putting tremendous pressure on the security sector. The minister told the House that there has been an increase in transnational crime, but it is not directly related to Guyana, instead, it is a result of the drug trade. “We are not the marketplace for the drugs. We are transit points, and the fact that the drug trafficking activity and criminality bring tremendous pressures in relation to the security sphere. We will continue to fight. We’re putting more money into this effort, and we are working at continuing to bring down the planes and to make the necessary seizures to deal with this nefarious business,” Minister Benn told the House.

Speaking on narcotic seizures by the Guyana Police Force, in 2024, Benn said there were 1463 seizures, 581 reports, 1379 cases and 77 convictions. Trafficking in Persons (TIP) saw 31 reports and six cases being made. “The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit made the significant seizure of over 4000 kilograms of cocaine in our country over the years. The Guyana Police Force also seized, after discovering particular types of submersible vessels, three vessels, which were intended for use in drug trafficking…” Benn said.

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• Despite growing oil wealth, High poverty, low-paying jobs, Public Sector, US Department of State

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