In a significant narcotics interdiction operation, Guyana’s Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) apprehended four individuals on Sunday, January 18, 2026, seizing approximately 154 pounds of cocaine with an estimated European street value of €2.1 million (US$2.4 million). The bust occurred near Parika, East Bank Essequibo, marking a substantial blow to international drug trafficking networks.
According to CANU officials, the detained suspects include a Guyanese national residing in Venezuela and a young entrepreneur from the Essequibo Coast region. The illicit substance was intercepted while being transported by vehicle, with investigators indicating the drugs were destined for European markets. All four individuals were promptly transferred to CANU headquarters for interrogation and processing.
This successful operation emerges against a backdrop of heightened narcotics surveillance in the Caribbean-European corridor. Recent weeks have witnessed Dutch law enforcement agencies in the Netherlands intercepting multiple cocaine shipments originating from Suriname. Notably, on January 12, Dutch police and customs authorities confiscated 319 kilograms of cocaine concealed within a container of deep-frozen fish, highlighting sophisticated smuggling methodologies employed by transnational criminal organizations.
The Parika seizure demonstrates Guyana’s intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking through enhanced interagency cooperation and intelligence-driven operations. While specific details regarding the investigation remain confidential, authorities emphasize their commitment to disrupting supply chains that exploit Guyana’s transportation infrastructure for international narcotics distribution.