Record Seizure: Interpol Announces Massive Haul of Methamphetamine
Interpol announced on Tuesday the "record seizure" of nearly 300 million methamphetamine pills, a synthetic drug, on the American continent and in Asia during an international police operation.
A total of 386 people were arrested, and police seized 76 tons of drugs, including 51 tons of methamphetamine (in liquid and solid form), during the interventions carried out from June 30 to July 13 in 18 countries, dubbed "Lionfish-Mayag III", according to a statement from Interpol, headquartered in Lyon, France.
The total value of the seized drugs was estimated at $6.5 billion (5.5 billion EUR), the international police organization assured.
Interpol particularly highlights the exceptional seizure of 297 million "yaba" pills, a type of methamphetamine that circulates widely in Southeast Asia. Other recovered drugs include fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and ketamine, among others.
Traffickers sometimes showed remarkable ingenuity, hiding substances in a sailboard, among pineapples, in coffee machines, tea bags, or cat food bags, Interpol reported, for example.
The operation demonstrates the effectiveness of international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. With this record seizure, Interpol sends a strong message to traffickers and reinforces its commitment to disrupting global drug supply chains.
