Drug trafficking operation nets file seizures and 1,333 arrests

A global operation coordinated by INTERPOL has laid naked the huge scale of drug trafficking with the seizure of illicit narcotics and precursor chemical compounds prices greater than USD 717,000,000 and the arrest of 1,333 suspects worldwide.

Operation Lionfish V (23 June – 31 July) focused on the trafficking of illicit medication alongside air, land, and maritime routes in 22 nations worldwide by way of a coordinated cross-border method, with greater than 291 tonnes of precursor chemical compounds and 35.5 tonnes of narcotics seized.

Whereas conventional medications like cocaine and hashish proceed to characterize a major share of the illicit medication market, the operation underscored the rise in the manufacturing and sale of artificial medication resembling methamphetamine, Captagon, and ketamine.

Precursor chemical compounds are particularly precious to prison organizations as a result of they permit them to supply countless provide of artificial medications with a really excessive revenue margin. The manufacturing of artificial medication doesn’t depend on environmental or exterior elements like cocaine and heroin and might be manufactured in city settings near main transportation hubs.

Operational outcomes

Throughout the five-week operation, authorities recovered 1.8 tonnes of ketamine, 683 kg of methamphetamine and 581 kg of Captagon. Important seizures additionally included:

• 20.2 tonnes of cocaine
• 11.7 tonnes of hashish
• 158 kg of heroin
• 65,100 tablets and 48 kg of Tramadol
• 9,500,000 pseudoephedrine tablets were used to fabricate methamphetamine
• dozens of firearms, rockets and explosives

A clandestine super-lab able to produce 1000’s of kilograms of ketamine was dismantled in Cambodia, the place police arrested a person needed internationally on an INTERPOL Purple Discover for alleged transnational drug smuggling offenses.

The 1,333 arrests made through the operation embrace 25 totally different nationalities, additional highlighting how drug trafficking is a worldwide drawback that requires a worldwide response.

Indian authorities made the biggest single seizure of heroin through the operation after 75.3 kg of the drug had been intercepted within the Port of Mundra. In a press release, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) underlined how the nation’s Nationwide Central Bureau for INTERPOL coordinated with legislation enforcement companies globally, for concerted motion towards drug networks with worldwide linkages, with a view to disrupt, dismantle and degrade illicit drug networks.

The operation confirmed that traffickers use numerous kinds of transport modes to smuggle their narcotics together with containerized maritime cargo, air couriers, postal/categorical mail companies, business automobiles, GOFAST vessels, and small planes.

Operation Lionfish V: Cocaine seizure in Brazil.

Weapons seized in Iraq throughout Operation Lionfish V

Operation Lionfish V – Philippines.

INTERPOL’s global network

Throughout the operation, INTERPOL’s Legal Networks and Medication unit coordinated operational conferences to facilitate the change of knowledge by way of INTERPOL’s I-24/7 safe international communications channel between collaborating nations.

INTERPOL efficiently deployed its Aid database through the operation, a forensic functionality which is able to linking international drug seizures collectively. It resulted within the optimistic match of two prior drug seizures in Brazil and Germany.

“Legal teams function like a worldwide fortune 500 firm. They search to maximise income, reduce threat, diversify their holdings and search for rising markets,” stated INTERPOL Secretary Common Jürgen Inventory.

“Operation Lionfish demonstrates what might be achieved in tackling this international menace when member nations work collectively by way of INTERPOL to attach and empower police all over the world for the security and safety of our residents,” added Secretary Common Inventory.

Pre-operational and capability constructing conferences in Abu Dhabi, UAE demonstrated the effectiveness of bringing legislation enforcement specialists collectively to share actual time intelligence resulting in the disruption of world drug routes and people complicated prison organizations which manage them.

Lt Col Dana Humaid, Director Common, Worldwide Affairs Bureau, UAE Ministry of Inside, stated: “The complicated nature of right this moment’s prison organizations calls for a complicated and coordinated response from legislation enforcement companies. The United Arab Emirates was happy to have the ability to leverage its strategic location on the crossroads between Europe, Asia and the Americas to deliver collectively worldwide drug legislation enforcement specialists and disrupt prison actions that know no borders.”

“The success of Operation Lionfish V sends a transparent message to worldwide crime teams that profitable collaboration amongst worldwide legislation enforcement is feasible. The UAE is dedicated to supporting its companions in INTERPOL to deepen this cooperation through the years to come back.”

Lionfish was carried out beneath the umbrella of Venture AMEAP (Africa, Center East, Asia Pacific), a multi-year venture concentrating on drug trafficking funded  by the INTERPOL Basis for a Safer World.

The publication of a number of INTERPOL Purple Notices on the modus operandi of crime networks is additional anticipated on account of the operation.

Collaborating nations: Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Türkiye, and UAE.

( INTERPOL)