The strengthening of passenger controls at Cayenne airport has prevented the exit of a ton of cocaine to France since July 1, said Thursday the prefect of Cayenne, Thierry Quéfellec.
Since July 1, three reinforced control operations have taken place and have made it possible to "
seize or prevent a ton of cocaine from being loaded
", declared the prefect, during a press briefing on insecurity.
According to the prefecture, "
17 to 20%
" of the nearly 600 passengers checked during these large-scale operations were carrying cocaine.
At the beginning of June, the police in Guyana implemented a new strategy to fight against cocaine trafficking, by controlling all passengers from Cayenne airport departing for France.
“
Break the logistics
”
Each time, passengers are notified of the check the day before, by SMS.
"
A strategy that dissuades smugglers, also called mules, from showing up for boarding
," said the prefect who wants to "
break the logistics of traffickers and create uncertainty in their mode of management
".
In Guyana, Felix-Eboué airport is the main exit door to France and serves the Paris airports of Roissy and Orly.
According to the prefect Thierry Queffelec, 20% of the cocaine consumed in France comes from Guyana, a traffic hub.