Mon Sep 09 15:39:15 UTC 2024: ## Guinea-Bissau Makes Record Cocaine Bust, Detains Five Crew Members

**Bissau, Guinea-Bissau** – Authorities in Guinea-Bissau have made a record-breaking seizure of 2.63 tonnes of cocaine at the capital’s international airport, a major blow to the country’s reputation as a drug transit hub. The illicit haul, discovered on a plane originating from Venezuela, is the largest ever recorded in the West African nation.

The plane, reportedly registered in Mexico, was intercepted on Saturday, with 78 bales of cocaine found on board. All five crew members, including the pilot, have been detained and face charges. The suspects include two Mexicans, one Colombian, one Ecuadorian, and one Brazilian. They are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Landing,” was conducted in close collaboration with the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N). Local reports suggest that authorities are working to dismantle the entire network involved in this drug trafficking incident.

The seizure highlights the ongoing challenge facing Guinea-Bissau in its fight against drug trafficking. The country’s weak state institutions, a consequence of nine coups since independence in 1974, have made it a prime target for drug barons seeking to transport narcotics to Europe.

This recent bust comes after the son of Guinea-Bissau’s ex-president was sentenced to over six years in prison by a US court earlier this year for leading an international heroin trafficking ring. This underscores the gravity of the drug problem in the country and the international efforts required to combat it.

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