Surinamese law enforcement has apprehended three individuals on charges of illicit fuel trafficking from neighboring Guyana, marking a significant interception in regional border security operations. The arrests occurred Wednesday along the South Drain roadway following an intelligence-led operation.
According to official statements from the Suriname Police Corps, authorities discovered approximately 1,000 liters of contraband petroleum products during a vehicle inspection. The seizure included 310 liters of gasoline and 690 liters of diesel fuel contained in multiple jerry cans. Forensic examination confirmed the fuel’s characteristics matched petroleum products commonly smuggled from Guyanese territory.
The suspects, identified by initials KR (40), PN (38), and BP (48), were traveling in a pickup truck allegedly loaded through a sophisticated smuggling network. Investigation revealed the fuel had been transported via high-speed “Go Fast” watercraft before being transferred to the vehicle at a boat owner’s storage facility.
Police investigators noted inconsistencies in suspect statements and presented documentation, raising suspicions of document forgery. The discrepancies in alleged invoices and transportation timelines prompted deeper scrutiny of the operation’s legitimacy.
Following judicial consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, all three individuals remain in custody pending further investigation. The confiscated vehicle and fuel products have been impounded as evidence in the ongoing case. This interception highlights increasing collaboration between Surinamese and Guyanese authorities addressing cross-border petroleum smuggling networks exploiting regional price disparities.