Global Police Sting Results in Seizure of ‘Narco-Sub’ and 678 Tons of Drugs and Chemicals

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) said that a massive law enforcement operation spanning 31 countries across Africa, Europe, and South America has led to the arrest of over 200 suspects, the seizure of 678 tons of drugs and precursor chemicals, and a semi-submersible “narco-sub.”

Interpol said on July 30 that the two-month-long global operation dubbed “Lionfish Hurricane,” coordinated by the organization, led to 206 arrests and the seizure of 62 tons of cocaine and 57 tons of other drugs, including marijuana, ketamine, and tramadol.

In Guyana, the operation led to the discovery of a semi-submersible “narco-sub” capable of transporting 3 tons of cocaine. Interpol said these types of vessels are routinely used by international drug traffickers to transport vast amounts of cocaine by way of South American rivers and then across the Atlantic to Western Europe.

Interpol said that the value of the drugs and precursor chemicals was around $1.6 billion.

“The value of drugs seized in this two-month operation is higher than the GDP of some countries, which clearly shows the scale of the problem facing law enforcement,” Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock said in a statement.

In Brazil, authorities acting under Interpol’s coordination arrested 17 members of a drug mule ring transporting narcotics to France. One of the individuals who was detained had ingested 120 packages of cocaine.

In Ghana, operation Lionfish Hurricane led to the seizure of more than 41 pounds of marijuana destined for the UK, as well as to the dismantling of a trafficking ring in the African country, where the criminal group exploited postal shipments to send drugs overseas.

In addition to the seizure of drugs, the operation led to the confiscation of a record 557 tons of precursor chemicals, which are used for manufacturing both drugs and explosives.

In Colombia, agents acting as part of Operation Lionfish Hurricane seized 2.3 tons of hydrochloric acid and a jungle factory producing sulphuric acid, both of which are used in the manufacture of cocaine.

Interpol said that the unprecedented size of the precursor seizure highlights the “significant” growth of transnational organized crime groups, as well as their ability to manufacture weapons.

The confiscated items included 30,000 commercial-grade detonators seized in South Africa, along with 280 firearms and grenades. Interpol said that the detonators had been diverted from commercial mining or military use.

“Organized crime networks continue to expand their reach and the devastating consequences their activities bring,“ Mr. Stock said. ”We will, and must, unite our efforts to combat this national security threat which threatens every country.”

Operation Lionfish Hurricane was led by the UK Home Office. Since 2013, various “Lionfish” operations have netted seizures worth more than $3.6 billion and led to the arrests of more than 5,600 suspects.