In a significant counter-narcotics operation, Surinamese authorities have dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking infrastructure in the Witagron region. During a specialized reconnaissance mission on February 12, 2026, a joint task force comprising members of the Judicial Intervention Team (JIT) and Directorate of National Security (DNV) discovered an illicit airstrip alongside multiple established camps.
The operation, initially intended to map unauthorized landing strips in the interior, uncovered far more extensive criminal operations than anticipated. Security personnel encountered a complex network containing approximately 15,000 liters of diesel fuel, an arsenal of weapons and ammunition, various all-terrain vehicles, and substantial quantities of cash in multiple currencies.
The financial seizure included Colombian pesos, US dollars, Surinamese dollars, Venezuelan bolivars, and Brazilian reais, indicating the transnational nature of the criminal enterprise. Most notably, authorities discovered a partially constructed self-propelled semi-submersible vessel (SPSS) – a sophisticated naval craft designed specifically for covert drug transportation. Based on its dimensions, the vessel potentially could transport over 10 metric tons of cocaine.
Law enforcement apprehended six individuals during the three-day operation: three Colombian nationals and three Surinamese citizens, with arrests occurring on February 12, 13, and 14. Several armed Colombian suspects managed to evade capture during the initial raid. The Public Prosecution Service’s Unit Public Relations has confirmed that manhunt operations for these fugitives are currently underway.