Guyana joins major transnational crime crackdown

Sep 22, 2026 News

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…490+ arrests, 156 tonnes of drugs seized

(Kaieteur News) – An international crackdown targeting transnational organised crime has resulted in more than 490 arrests and the seizure of over 156.9 tonnes of drugs, firearms, ammunition, gold, wildlife and other criminal assets, with Guyana among the 35 countries participating in the operation.

Operation ATLAS NEXUS, described by organisers as the largest joint operation against organised crime conducted to date between Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe in terms of the volume of seizures and countries involved, concluded with dozens of criminal networks identified and dismantled.

The operation was led by the Belgian Federal Police and coordinated jointly by the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). It was facilitated by the European Union’s EL PACCTO 2.0 programme, which supports cooperation between Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe on security and justice.

In a statement IMPACS said Guyana was among the participating countries, alongside Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as countries across Latin America and Europe. The operation targeted five priority criminal markets—drug trafficking, human trafficking, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime.

However, the information released on ATLAS NEXUS does not identify any specific arrests, seizures or criminal networks in Guyana.

Authorities reported the seizure of 37.6 tonnes of cocaine and 118.6 tonnes of cannabis, along with 201 firearms, 3,131 units of ammunition and explosives, 803 wild animals and livestock, US$135,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies, 0.83 kilogrammes of gold, 169 properties, 464 pieces of jewellery, 468 fraudulent documents and one vehicle. Eighteen victims were also rescued and assisted.

The international operation involved more than 8,680 police officers and justice authorities who monitored 110 aircraft, 28 vessels, 415 vehicles and 271 containers at 28 designated checkpoints in ports, airports and on roads. A total of 595 search warrants were executed.

Authorities also reported that 37 INTERPOL notices were issued during the operation, including 17 red notices. The operation was not limited to intercepting shipments. Organisers said a central objective was to identify and dismantle the criminal structures behind the movement of drugs, people, weapons and other illicit goods, while confiscating the assets that sustain those networks.

Among the significant discoveries was the identification and dismantling of the first cocaine processing laboratory detected in Ireland. Authorities also identified two new illegal gold-mining sites in French Guiana. Australia played a key role in the seizure of more than 5.6 tonnes of cocaine, while significant operations were also reported in Costa Rica, France, Greece, Ireland, Montenegro, Paraguay, Portugal, Suriname and Sweden.

The operation brought together 35 countries and involved regional and international organisations including AMERIPOL, CARICOM IMPACS, EUROPOL, FRONTEX, INTERPOL, MAOC(N) and the Regional Security System. The United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Australia and other countries also contributed to intelligence-sharing and operational activities.

Preparatory work for the operation included an April 2026 meeting in Panama City involving EMPACT MTCNI, FRONTEX, CARICOM IMPACS and EL PACCTO 2.0. Authorities used that process to identify high-value targets and criminal methods before coordinated operational actions were launched.

The operation also involved programmes including CRIMARIO II, SEACOP VI and the Italian-funded INTERPOL I-CAN programme, whose international connections were used to strengthen intelligence-sharing. In Costa Rica, authorities seized more than 27.8 tonnes of drugs, including 24.5 tonnes of cocaine and 3.2 tonnes of cannabis, along with 181 firearms. A total of 375 people were arrested and 14 victims rescued. Paraguay recorded a separate major seizure of 104.96 tonnes of cannabis, with eight arrests reported for drug and firearms trafficking. The international authorities said the operation demonstrated the importance of connecting intelligence from different jurisdictions and taking simultaneous action against criminal networks operating across several continents.

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• cocaine, illegal airstrip, Matthews Ridge, transnational crime crackdown, transnational organised crime

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