The doubling of the volume of containers at the ports of Guadeloupe and Martinique is becoming a major concern in the fight against drug trafficking. The latest report on the activities of the security forces lifts the veil on the risks and takes stock of the seizures made.
A report from the Court of Auditors zooms in on the activities of the anti-narcotics office (OFAST) and the security forces, assigned to the fight against drug trafficking, over the financial years 2018 to 2023.
In the section devoted to the Antilles-Guyana, this document, dated September 26, 2024, shows that the threats continue to grow in these particularly exposed territories. Mention is made in particular of the French port infrastructures of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the security of which is considered insufficient, which “constitute major points of vulnerability“, according to observations made; especially since the volume of containers passing through it has doubled in recent years.
The Antilles-Guyana act, in the eyes of traffickers, as gateways to Europe, a zone for selling their illicit goods. These French territories have a geographical location from which they benefit, close to producing countries in Latin America and transit countries, such as Saint Lucia, Guyana, or the Dominican Republic. They are also on historic routes of global maritime transport.
This unfortunately strategic position, for the cartels, is not without consequences for these territories. The drug doesn't just pass through; part feeds local traffic. However, this illegal activity goes hand in hand with the increase in crime and violence.
The Antilles-Guyana zone notably records a homicide rate seven times higher than that of France (7 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 1.1 in mainland France), partly linked to score-settling between rival gangs.
The sea route, via fishing boats, sailboats, speedboats and containers, is a mainstay of drug transport. The increase in massive seizures bears witness to this.
In 2022, seizures of cocaine made in the Antilles in marinas, anchorages and marinas amounted to nearly 1.2 tonnes. In 2023, the OFAST branch in the Caribbean zone, responsible for Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint-Martin, seized 11 tonnes of narcotics. In March 2024, 1.8 tonnes of cocaine were seized in the French part of Saint-Martin, in a “cigarette boat”, very popular with traffickers for its power.
The sea route is also the main entry route for cocaine into France; it represents 55% of the quantities seized in 2023, mainly from the Antilles-Guyana.
All the same, for almost 10 years, air traffic has been progressing. It relies on people in precarious situations, who play “mules“by transporting the drugs in or from the bodyagainst a few thousand euros.
The Surinamese-Guyanese networks play a major role in organizing this type of trafficking. In 2022, nearly 17.1% of cocaine intercepted involved this mode of operation: 1,318 smugglers were arrested on flights from Guyana, leading to the seizure of three tonnes of cocaine. x
Faced with this operating method, the “100% physical checks” system in French airports in the Antilles-Guyana seems to have a deterrent effect.
Never mind! The criminals adapt and try other methods to transport the drugs: “go fast maritimes“, you fret express, you fret postal.
In 2022, freight represented 36% of cocaine seizures made by Roissy Fret customs services from Guyana.
In view of all these findings, it is essential to strengthen monitoring, interception and repression measures in the area, which is very vast, in particular through cooperation between States.
