Majority of illegal drugs enter Guyana from Venezuela, transshipped to Europe and West Africa – CANU Head

Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), James Singh, has revealed that the majority of narcotics entering Guyana originate from Venezuela, with much of it destined for international markets in Europe and West Africa.

Speaking on this week’s episode of the Safeguarding Our Nation programme, Singh stressed that Guyana is not a producer of cocaine but, due to its geographic location, is increasingly being used as a transit point by drug cartels.

“In the past, we have seen drugs enter Guyana and then transship towards North America.

Recently, however, there has been a shift. Now the drugs are coming into Guyana and moving on to West Africa and Europe,” Singh said.

He noted that increased law enforcement presence and patrols across the Caribbean Basin have made North American routes riskier for traffickers, who are now seeking alternative corridors.

“The majority of drugs come into Guyana from Venezuela. It doesn’t help that it’s a narco-state and claims two-thirds of our territory. But it comes from Venezuela by plane or by boat to be further transshipped. Some remain here and others head to foreign territories,” Singh said.

CANU has detected trafficking attempts involving low-flying aircraft, marine vessels, contaminated shipping containers after leaving Guyana, and even the construction of semi-submersibles and low-profile vessels designed to evade detection.

To combat the trade, Singh said CANU has conducted several successful joint operations locally, resulting in major drug seizures, while also engaging in intelligence-driven international collaborations.

“We are working through intelligence, undercover operations, sharing of information from our colleagues overseas, as well as working with various communities,” he said.

The CANU Head emphasised the importance of public cooperation and international partnerships in tackling drug trafficking networks.

“We can’t fight alone. We are fighting an enemy on different fronts. It’s a network, and so partnerships are key. Our mandate is to detect, disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks within the country,” he said.