Interpol has just struck hard against drug trafficking: its most recent operation, conducted on three continents, led to the seizure of 615 tons of narcotics and chemical precursors and even a “narco-sub” in the jungle, a homemade submarine designed to transport illicit narcotics. A total of 31 countries participated in the international operation called LionFish Hurricane, including Canada.
At the very end of July, the International Criminal Police Organization announced that it had withdrawn from the market drugs that were estimated to have generated $1.6 billion on the illicit market.
“The value of the drugs seized in this two-month operation is greater than the GDP of some countries, clearly demonstrating the scale of the problem facing law enforcement,” Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock said in a statement.
Operation LionFish Hurricane took place in Africa, Europe and South America.
It led to the seizure of an “unprecedented” quantity of 505 tonnes of chemical precursors, which are used to manufacture drugs and explosives. This highlights “the significant growth of transnational criminal groups and their ability to manufacture weapons”, notes Interpol.
Some 56 tonnes of cocaine were also removed from the market, as were 52 tonnes of other drugs, such as marijuana, ketamine and tramadol, an opioid painkiller. Canada added tramadol in 2022 as a controlled substance and narcotic, since governed by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
A narco-sub
Interpol said the massive operation illustrated how drug trafficking transcends state borders and involves vast criminal networks that extend their tentacles into many countries.
Nothing illustrates this better than this “narco-submarine” seized in the jungle in Guyana.
This type of self-propelled, semi-submersible, artisanal vehicle is specifically built for drug trafficking.
According to Interpol, it can transport up to three tons of cocaine through the rivers of South America to cross the Atlantic to reach Europe.
Transnational illegal activities
Another example of transnational drug trafficking is this group of mules that traveled from Brazil to France. As part of LionFish Hurricane, Brazilian police arrested 17 people, including one who had ingested 120 packages of cocaine, Interpol reported.
There are also the six tons of cocaine hydrochloride that transited through Sierra Leone before being seized in Antwerp, Belgium, while another ton of the same drug destined for Europe was intercepted in Senegal before crossing the ocean. Cocaine hydrochloride is the most common form of this drug and comes in the form of a white powder.
Close links between various illegal activities
Drug trafficking is not limited to this illegal activity. It is increasingly linked to arms trafficking.
LionFish Hurricane thus led to the seizure in South America of 30,000 commercial-grade detonators that had been diverted from military or mining-related uses, as well as 280 firearms and grenades.
There are also links to car theft networks.
Thus, 65 vehicles were seized during this Interpol operation: one stolen in Canada four months ago was even found in Benin.