CANU stepping up fight against drug trafficking

The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) is intensifying its fight against drug trafficking operations, dismantling networks, and building strong international partnerships.
Speaking on the latest episode of Safeguarding Our Nation aired earlier today, CANU Director James Singh emphasised that drug trafficking poses a direct threat to Guyana’s national security, economy, and reputation.
“In the past we’ve seen drugs enter Guyana, and then transshipped through Guyana, through the Caribbean basin, towards North America. Recently, there’s been a shift, now drugs are still coming into Guyana and then transshipped towards West Africa and Europe. As a result of law enforcement presence and patrolling within the Caribbean basin, that has somewhat deterred traffickers and posed more risk to them,” he said.
He noted that the majority of drugs enter Guyana via Venezuela, using maritime go-fast boats and private aircraft.
Singh underscored that the unit’s mission is to detect, disrupt, and dismantle these networks, noting that international confidence in CANU’s capabilities is now stronger than ever.
Singh’s comments follow the agency’s confirmation of credible death threats against him from an international criminal network.
Despite these threats, he reaffirmed that CANU’s operations will continue without intimidation.
“We conduct several operations within Guyana. Internationally, we have done several operations with our partners. We seized 4.7 tonnes of cocaine onboard a vessel that had departed Guyana loaded with the cocaine and we tracked it all the way to West Africa. There’s been other seizures in Europe through international cooperation,” he explained.
Singh noted that traffickers are becoming innovative, shifting tactics through low-flying aircraft, post-clearance contamination of containers, and new maritime smuggling routes.
CANU has expanded surveillance capabilities, advanced officer training, and forged deeper intelligence-sharing partnerships with both local and international agencies.
The episode also explored CANU’s focus on prevention through its Drug Information Network, which supports education and awareness efforts.
CANU says public tips remain vital to successful operations, as the agency prepares to confront emerging threats, including synthetic drugs and global trafficking rings.