Guinea-Bissau Cops Bust 2-Ton Cocaine Haul from Venezuela Flight
Guinea-Bissau authorities successfully intercepted a massive drug shipment when they seized 2.63 tonnes of cocaine on an aircraft arriving from Venezuela.
The confiscation occurred at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in the country’s capital, Bissau.
The judicial police of Guinea-Bissau confirmed that 78 bales of cocaine were found on board the Gulfstream IV jet.
The bust, carried out on Saturday, highlights the continued use of West Africa as a transit hub for drug smuggling.
The plane’s crew, composed of five individuals, was immediately arrested by authorities.
Among the detained were two Mexican nationals, as well as individuals from Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil, including the pilot.
These suspects are scheduled to appear in a regional court on Monday for further interrogation and legal proceedings.
Authorities will work to uncover more details regarding their involvement in the drug trafficking operation.
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This raid, which authorities named “Operation Landing,” was a coordinated effort between the Guinea-Bissau police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center-Narcotics.
This collaborative approach underscores the increasing international efforts to combat the movement of illicit drugs, particularly cocaine, through West Africa.
West Africa has become a strategic transit point for drug cartels, especially for cocaine shipments originating from South America with Europe as the final destination.
In recent years, authorities have recorded a number of significant drug seizures in the region.
The latest bust in Bissau is one of the largest drug hauls recorded in the country, reflecting the scale of international narcotics trafficking and the challenges posed to local and international law enforcement agencies.
According to the 2024 U.N. World Drug Report, cocaine remains one of the most widely consumed illicit substances globally, with approximately 23 million users worldwide.
The recent seizure in Guinea-Bissau adds to growing concerns about the expanding global drug trade.
Guinea-Bissau Cops Bust 2-Ton Cocaine Haul from Venezuela Flight
