Coast guard intercepted 4,8 t of drugs along Cuban Coasts in 2017

Most of the drug consisted of marihuana and the total amount is larger than the narcotics seized in 2015 and 2016, said the official report published in Granma newspaper.That increase is related to the impact of the unfavorable trend of drug trafficking and consumption worldwide on our geographic region, due to an increase in production, supply and demand, the report says.

Despite the operations carried out to seize the narcotics, 224 drug arrivals were reported, totaling 2,571 kg (4,462 kg of marihuana and 109 kg of cocaine).

The press release notes that the regions with more incidences of drug arrivals are Granma and Guantanamo (east) and the south coast from Pinar del Rio to Camagüey, including the special municipality Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth).

Increased surveillance allowed clarifying 18 thefts of drugs arriving on the coast, as a result of which 46 Cuban citizens were arrested and 41.28 kg of narcotics were seized.

At the same time, airport authorities frustrated 43 international drug-trafficking operations, during which 54 foreigners were arrested and 55 kg of drugs were occupied, the report adds.

Authorities pointed out that the Jose Marti International Airport, in Havana, continues to be the terminal with the highest incidence of drug trafficking, although smuggling operations were also frustrated in Matanzas and Holguin.

In addition, 46 foreigners were found carrying small amounts of drugs for personal consumption and they were warned about national regulations and were fined.

In the country, preventive actions and the fight against the improper use of medications and marijuana crops in faraway areas continued.

While neutralizing those kinds of cases, authorities seized 43 kg of drugs, mainly marihuana (40 kg) and small amounts of cocaine, synthetic cannabinoids, crack, hashish and medicines.

The press release quotes the 2017 World Report of the United Nations against Drug and Crime, which says that the drug-trafficking routes continue to vary and diversify ‘at an alarming pace’.

It says that about 97 percent of drug trafficking in our region is carried out by sea, basically on speedboats, which sail along routes near Cuban jurisdictional waters.