In four years, the Army and the National Civil Police (PNC) have located 71 narcoplanes in different regions, although the numbers decreased considerably in 2023, according to information from the Ministry of Defense (Mindef). While the authorities attribute it to the deployment of more military force, security experts consider that the drug trafficking groups only took land and sea routes.
According to Mindef data, in 2020, 39 narcoplanes were located in different departments, mainly in Petén. In 2021 there were 20; in 2022, 9, and last year, three. So far in 2024, none.
Narcopistas
Statistics from that agency also reveal that between 2020 and 2023, 129 clandestine clues were located that were used by drug trafficking cartels. In 2023, 12 were found, compared to 36 in 2020 in different regions.
For Army spokesperson Rubén Téllez, seizures of narcoplanes and the location of clandestine runways decreased considerably, due to the deployment of military land and air force.
“This year no illicit aircraft have landed in national territory and no runway disabling operations have been carried out,” he stated.
Téllez added: “There are contributing factors, such as the constant presence of ground units on runways and possible runways, as well as the strengthening of the Guatemalan Air Force with helicopters that allow us to reach where the narcoplanes land.”
According to Téllez, another situation that has been observed is that, compared to previous years, it is no longer common to find obstacles on the routes to prevent ground forces from reaching the place where aircraft land, although he said he did not know the causes.
Collaboration
For the independent researcher on security issues Federico Reyes, these figures may reflect the collaboration of the United States with the latest governments to dismantle criminal structures, if it is taken into account that during 2023 25 people were also arrested and extradited for drug trafficking crimes. , according to the accusations of the US government.
“It might be the joint investigations and above all the interest of the United States Government to follow up and identify where the cartels come from and the relationship they have with criminal groups in Guatemala,” he explained.
Another factor, according to Reyes, is that drug trafficking groups are “innovative” and constantly seek strategies to transport drugs and go unnoticed by the authorities.
“Microscopic analysis of what was seized would help identify the purity and origin of the drug. Many times attention is paid to quantity and not quality. This does not detract from the actions, it just may affect them using other means to transport it,” Reyes stated.
Investment
Police agents commented that drug traffickers invest millions of dollars in the development of technology and prefer to use the sea to transport cocaine from South America to the United States.
Experts pointed out that they can do this through modified speed boats, cargo ships, private and fishing boats, as well as submersibles, which can have a cost of US$2 million.
Aircraft
In 2023, only three drug planes landed in the country. The first was detected in La Reformita, Ixcán, Quiché. On February 18, in the Nuevo Amanecer community, San Andrés, Petén, and a third on March 4 in the El Colorado hamlet, Sayaxché, also in said department.
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