In a significant blow to international drug trafficking, authorities in Guinea-Bissau have seized a staggering 2.63 tonnes of cocaine at the capital’s international airport.
The drugs, worth millions, were discovered on a plane that had arrived from Venezuela. This massive haul is the largest in the country’s history and highlights.
Guinea-Bissau’s role as a transit point in the global drug trade is a very critical one.
The seizure, dubbed “Operation Landing,” was a result of close cooperation between local authorities, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, Narcotics, a European organization.
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Five crew members, including the pilot, were detained, and their nationalities include Mexican, Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Brazilian.
Guinea-Bissau, a West African country, has struggled with drug trafficking for years, earning it the label of “narco-state” from the UN. The country’s weak state institutions, a result of nine coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, have made it an attractive haven for drug barons.
This seizure is a significant step in the fight against drug trafficking, and authorities are working to dismantle the entire network involved. The incident also highlights the need for continued international cooperation to combat this global issue.
