Major Cocaine Haul in Guinea-Bissau: 2.6 Tons Seized from Venezuelan Aircraft

Authorities in Guinea-Bissau seized 2.6 tons of cocaine from a plane that arrived from Venezuela over the weekend. The judicial police reported on Monday that the drugs were found on a Gulfstream IV aircraft at Bissau's Osvaldo Vieira International Airport.

The police confiscated 78 bales of cocaine during a raid on Saturday afternoon. The crew, consisting of five individuals, including two Mexicans and citizens from Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil, were arrested. This included the pilot.

Increasing Drug Seizures in West Africa

Cocaine seizures are becoming more frequent in West Africa. According to a UN report earlier this year, the region has become a significant transit point for drugs from Latin America and Southwest Asia heading to Europe.

Guinea-Bissau is particularly known as a favoured route for international drug cartels. Earlier this year, Malam Bacai Sanha's son was sentenced to over six years in prison by a US court for leading an international heroin trafficking ring.

International Cooperation in Drug Enforcement

The recent cocaine seizure was conducted with the assistance of the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre–Narcotics, a European organisation. This collaboration highlights the international effort to combat drug trafficking.

Neighbouring Senegal also reported a record-breaking cocaine seizure earlier this year. Authorities intercepted 1,137 kilograms (2,506 pounds) of cocaine near an artisanal mine in the east of the country. This haul was valued at USD 146 million.

The increasing frequency of drug seizures in West Africa underscores the region's growing role in global drug trafficking networks. Efforts by local and international agencies continue to target these illegal activities.