ON September 29, just about a month after he was re-elected, President Irfaan Ali called for a “mature and open” discussion on the expanding US naval and anti-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, urging CARICOM heads of state to approach the matter “with eyes wide open.”

In an interview with journalist Kiana Wilburg, President Ali stated that while Guyana supports efforts against drug trafficking, it is important to ensure that the Caribbean remains a “zone of peace.”

The president is right, of course, and so is Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who called on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) a few days ago to ferret out any Guyanese who might be aiding and abetting criminals. Drug trafficking is a global epidemic, one that claims the innocent lives of thousands every day.

The 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances legally binds Guyana to not only criminalise drug production, trafficking, and money laundering, but it also compels Georgetown to co-operate in extradition, providing mutual legal assistance and maritime interdiction.

Guyana is also part of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission under the Organisation of American States (OAS). Under the CARICOM’s Implementing Agency for Crime and Security and the CARICOM Crime and Security Strategy of 2013, Guyana prioritises intelligence sharing and joint maritime operations against narco-traffickers.

That’s not all. Guyana has a Maritime Counter-Narcotics Cooperation Agreement with the United States. Under this treaty, Guyanese law enforcement officials can serve as “shipriders” on U.S. vessels, authorising operations in Guyana’s territorial waters in joint pursuit of suspect narco-vessels. This particular agreement allows for coordinated patrols, enforcement actions, and mutual support to prevent drug trafficking by sea and air.

Under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), Guyana benefits from U.S.-funded training, technical assistance, and security infrastructure upgrades. In March 2024, the United States provided US$300,000 in new bilateral funding under CBSI, along with a US$350,000 investment through the “Better Police Readiness Program” to modernise the GPF and enhance anti-drug capabilities. This followed a series of training and equipment-based initiatives by the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), including DEA and FBI technical programmes and ballistic forensics support.

When President Ali called for a “mature and open” discussion, even debate, it must take stock of Guyana’s legal obligations before it segues to the five, possibly six, alleged narco-boats off the coast of Venezuela that the US military has destroyed since early September. President Donald Trump and his administration are serious about their “war on narco-terrorism.” Only a fool would think he or his administration is blustering at this point.
But what impact will the killing of over 27 alleged narco-terrorists in just over a month have on drug trafficking? No one really knows for sure. The 11 people on board the first speedboat with four outboard motors that was blown to smithereens on Sept. 1-2 were most certainly carrying a large payload of drugs. According to law enforcement experts, these types of boats are referred to as “go-fasts” and are outfitted to cover long distances with a small crew quickly.
The individuals on board these ‘go-fasts’ boats are mostly from the coastal town of San Juan de Unare, in the Venezuelan state of Sucre, which sits about 180 kilometres from Trinidad and Tobago. US and regional authorities have said that San Juan de Unare is a transhipment point for drug smugglers. On his Truth Social platform, President Trump described the crew as members of Tren de Aragua (TDA), designated by the US as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation that operates under the control of Nicholas Maduro.
As for Maduro, President Trump described him as “one of the largest narcotics traffickers in the world.” This characterisation is based largely on a 2020 US indictment, which described Maduro and his second in command, Diosdado Cabello, as the “leaders and managers of the Cártel de Los Soles, or ‘Cartel of the Suns.”
As I write this column, I am looking out over the Atlantic on a windy Saturday afternoon. On the surface, it appears relatively calm, but looks can be deceiving. Transnational criminal networks can adapt faster than any armed drone could chase and destroy them. The destruction of six alleged narco-boats is certainly a show of force, but if recent history has taught us any lesson, the cocaine pipelines from the south to the north or from west to east across the Atlantic can adapt and divert their supply chains to off-radar routes.
President Ali’s call for a “mature and open” discussion is not a plea for neutrality but a recognition that the region’s peace depends on foresight: confronting the trafficking networks without surrendering sovereignty, and working with allies without getting subsumed in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.