U.S. working with Guyana to prevent rise of gangs, narco-traffickers as prosperity, migration surge

In a bid to combat emerging security challenges linked to migration and organised crime, the United States is intensifying its collaboration with Guyana. This comes on the heels of a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed last week, designed to bolster security cooperation between the two nations.

During his visit to Georgetown, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the growing concerns surrounding migration and its potential to attract criminal elements. Rubio noted that Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy and strategic location have made it a destination for migrants, some of whom may pose security risks.

Rubio emphasised the need for swift and effective information-sharing between the U.S. and Guyana to prevent criminal elements, such as gangs and narcotics traffickers, from using the country as a base of operations.

He remarked, “We want to work with you on that. I think that’s a problem for you as well. Obviously, because of a combination of your growing economy, labour needs, and your geography, you have been a place where a lot of people have come in, and I think you want it to be the right people, alright?”

The newly signed MOU underscores the importance of this collaboration in the face of evolving regional security challenges. In addition to combatting narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime, the agreement lays the foundation for deeper cooperation in trade, energy, human capital development, and infrastructure projects.

One of the key aspects of the partnership is to address the threat posed by individuals entering Guyana with criminal intent. Rubio stated, “If we have information that someone has entered your country who has bad intentions, we want to be able to share that with your government because you don’t want that. You don’t want those individuals—if we have information on a gang member from Venezuela, we want to make sure that we have collaboration, and we’re sharing that information.”

Guyana, although not a primary source of illegal migration to the United States, has become a significant receiving country as migrants seek better opportunities in the region. Rubio acknowledged the majority of migrants may be seeking work, but emphasised the importance of filtering out those who may be involved in illegal activities. “Most people are probably here to work hard and survive, but not everyone,” he noted.

The agreement also seeks to prevent the establishment of criminal networks, particularly narco-traffickers, who may attempt to use Guyana as a staging ground for illicit activities. Rubio warned, “If we have information that some narco-traffickers are taking up shop here and have decided to turn this into a base of operation, which could lead to violence or gang warfare, we want to be able to share that with you.”

Rubio highlighted the critical role of information sharing in the success of this security initiative. “We want to be able to share that information with you very quickly,” he said. “That sort of information sharing has to be a cornerstone of this security agreement that we signed today and want to continue to expand upon.”