Drug trafficking
Operation Lionfish II
Nets Major Haul Of
Drugs, Weapons And Chemical Precursors
By: Kylie Bull, Managing Editor
12/18/2014 ( 2:29pm)
More than 27.5 tons of
drugs were seized in Operation Lionfish II, an INTERPOL-led initiative
targeting the illicit trafficking of drugs and firearms by organized crime
groups across Central America and the Caribbean. The seized drugs included
cocaine, cannabis and heroin, with the cocaine haul alone valued at almost $1.3
billion.
Drawing on extensive
coordination, groundwork and resources provided by 39 countries and territories
across the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe, the two-week operation (December
1-12) also resulted in the arrest of 422 suspects. Approximately 7.6 tons of
chemical precursors, 100 weapons and $2.2 million in cash were also seized.
Two individuals held in
the Dominican Republic and Peru were the object of INTERPOL Red Notices for
internationally wanted persons in connection with alleged offenses including
arms trafficking and drug trafficking.
Operation Lionfish II
was carried out as part of INTERPOL’s Project Fortaleza, which supports
countries in Latin America fight the most dangerous and ruthless organized
crime syndicates involved in large scale drug trafficking and illicit arms
trade, as well as other criminal activities.
“The success of this
INTERPOL-led operation is down to the commitment of participating countries and
the expertise of frontline police," said Glyn Lewis, INTERPOL’s director
for specialized crime and analysis. "These officers operate often in
dangerous circumstances to confront the insidious impact of organized crime
groups in Latin America exploiting Central America’s corridor and sea routes to
conduct their illicit activities."
“While the results are
impressive, they are just a start," Lewis said. "Follow-up work will
continue with further investigations and evidence being prepared for judicial
processes. INTERPOL will support its member countries in these ongoing
international inquiries."
Financially supported by
the French Ministry of Interior and the MILDECA (Mission Interministérielle de
Lutte contre les Drogues et les Conduites Addictives), Operation Lionfish II
was co-organized by INTERPOL’s General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, the
French International Police Cooperation Service and France’s OCRTIS (Office
Central pour la Répression du Traffic Illicite des Stupéfiants).
With INTERPOL units
providing coordination on the ground, INTERPOL’s regional bureau in El Salvador
and the OCRTIS office in Martinique provided real-time support for information
exchange and facilitating cross-checking of data against INTERPOL’s global
databases.
Jean-Jacques Colombi,
Commissaire Divisionnaire at INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Paris, said
France had played a key role in Operation Lionfish II because disrupting drugs
and weapons trafficking not only protects transit countries, but also destination
countries in Europe.
The operation was
undertaken in partnership with the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council
(CCLEC) and World Customs Organization (WCO), with support from Europol, which
carried out additional checks against its databases, the Maritime Analysis and
Operations Center, narcotics, as well as the French coastguard and customs.
“The CCLEC was pleased
to partner with INTERPOL and the WCO in Operation Lionfish II," said CCLEC
Permanent Secretary Paul Hilaire. "For two weeks, the community of
law enforcement officers throughout the Americas, embarked with European
partners on joint enforcement action against transnational crime, with
tremendous effect. The results clearly conclude that when we work together,
governments, customs, police, military, the intelligence community and
citizens of goodwill, phenomenal success is guaranteed."
Saul Hernandez Lainez,
head of INTERPOL’s regional bureau in San Salvador, said, “Operation Lionfish
II once again demonstrates the importance of INTERPOL’s global tools and
network in tackling crime affecting entire regions, and the essential role of
its Regional Bureaus in supporting member countries combat organized crime and
drug trafficking.”
With approximately 50
illicit laboratories producing narcotic substances shut down, the operation
also saw the Colombian National Navy seize a semi-submersible device used by
criminal gangs to transport drugs, two light airplanes seized in Ecuador and
almost 20 illicit jungle airstrips destroyed by Peruvian authorities. One ton
of cocaine was seized in El Salvador alone.
Operation Lionfish II
included the following countries and territories: Anguilla, Antigua and
Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bonaire, British Virgin
Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras,
Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Saint Maarten, Spain, St
Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago,
Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.
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