On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions on four Guyanese nationals and two Colombian nationals implicated in the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine from South America to the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. This decisive action underscores the U.S. commitment to combatting illicit drug trafficking and ensuring the safety of the American populace.
The investigation leading to these sanctions was supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and coordinated with key agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
In a significant breakthrough, DSS and DEA assisted Guyanese authorities in August 2024, resulting in the uncovering of 4.4 tons of cocaine found buried in a clandestine airfield located in the northwest region of Guyana, close to the Venezuelan border. This operation was further bolstered by specialized training from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which worked with Guyanese counternarcotics units through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
The sanctions were enacted under Executive Order 14059, which specifically targets the spread of illicit drugs and their production methods. For additional details regarding today’s designations, the Treasury has released a press statement outlining the specifics.
This bold move marks another step in the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking networks that threaten the safety and security of nations worldwide.
