Border Vulnerabilities

Guyana and the wider Caribbean continue to face challenges from drug trafficking and the criminal activities that come with it. Even though law enforcement agencies have made progress in stopping drugs and breaking up trafficking networks, large amounts of illegal drugs still make their way through the region. Traffickers are becoming more clever.
They change how they operate and take advantage of points in border controls, ports, waterways, and security systems. In Guyana, there have been cases where people carrying drugs passed through airports and other ports without being caught. These individuals were only discovered after they reached their destinations. Similar problems have been seen with cargo containers, parcels, boxes, and other shipments that sometimes slip through security systems undetected. These incidents have led to concerns about controls and allegations of corruption or collusion among those in charge of border security. Guyana’s geographical position makes it especially open to the activities of trafficking groups.
The country has river systems, remote airstrips, a very long coastline, weak land borders, and many entry and exit points. Cocaine from South America can reach Guyana through neighbouring countries and then be sent to markets in North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and West Africa. Traffickers use all kinds of methods, including ships, small boats, planes, human couriers, postal services, and legitimate cargo to hide and move narcotics.
The Caribbean’s location between American drug-producing countries and major consumer markets makes it a key transit zone for the global drug trade. As law enforcement steps up its efforts, traffickers are shifting to routes and methods, especially using the sea. Go-fast boats, commercial shipping vessels, offshore transfers, and isolated coastal areas make it extremely hard to detect shipments.
Recent regional operations show just how big the problem is and also demonstrate growing cooperation among countries. In May 2026, CARICOM and international partners carried out Operation Eclipse, an intelligence-led maritime operation. The operation involved 14 CARICOM member states and several international partners. Authorities monitored dozens of vessels, seized over 5.2 tonnes of cocaine and 1.8 tonnes of marijuana, and also recovered firearms, ammunition, vessels, and other illegal items.
The operation covered the Eastern Caribbean waters and transatlantic routes. It also uncovered the use of hidden aircraft to drop drugs near borders, which were then picked up by networks. These events show how trafficking groups are combining air, sea, and land transport to avoid detection. Guyana has taken steps to strengthen its response.
In 2012, with US funding through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime set up an agency, the Container Control Programme Port Control Unit, at John Fernandes Wharf. This initiative was meant to help the country better detect drugs, firearms, and other illegal goods hidden in shipping containers. Guyana has also passed laws to improve the prosecutorial powers of its law enforcement agencies.
These include the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009, the Interception of Communications Act of 2008, the Criminal Law Procedure Act, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act of 1988.
These laws give authorities tools to investigate and prosecute people involved in drug trafficking and related crimes. Despite these efforts, the ongoing movement of large amounts of drugs shows that law enforcement agencies cannot rely only on seizures. The drug trafficking problem is closely linked to money laundering, firearms trafficking, human trafficking, corruption, and other forms of crime.
This means the response must include financial investigations, better intelligence sharing, more maritime surveillance, container screening, improved border management, and actions to stop corruption.
Drug trafficking is a security and governance challenge for Guyana and the wider Caribbean. Recent regional operations prove that cooperation among Governments and international partners can disrupt major trafficking networks. Traffickers keep adapting to enforcement measures. Guyana must therefore keep working with international partners while also improving its own institutions, intelligence systems, border controls, and prosecutorial systems.
A coordinated and intelligence-led approach will be essential if the country and the wider Caribbean are to reduce the power and damage caused by transnational drug trafficking organisations.