Guyana joins major transnational crime crackdown

(Kaieteur News) – An international crackdown targeting transnational organised crime has resulted in more than 490 arrests and the seizure of over 156.9 tonnes of drugs, firearms, ammunition, gold, wildlife and other criminal assets, with Guyana among the 35 countries participating in the operation.

Operation ATLAS NEXUS, described by organisers as the largest joint operation against organised crime conducted to date between Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe in terms of the volume of seizures and countries involved, concluded with dozens of criminal networks identified and dismantled.

The operation was led by the Belgian Federal Police and coordinated jointly by the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). It was facilitated by the European Union’s EL PACCTO 2.0 programme, which supports cooperation between Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe on security and justice.