The Lionfish model of operations targets drug trafficking along air, land and maritime routes, resulting in major seizures and fresh intelligence. First held in Latin America in 2013, it has proven highly successful and has since expanded to other regions of the world.
Operation Lionfish is supported by external funding. It is a fundamental part of our Project AMEAP (Africa-Middle East-Asia Pacific), which coordinates initiatives against drug trafficking with funding by the INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World and the United Arab Emirates. Support from the Cocaine Route Programme of the European Union helps cover other regions.
Recent Lionfish highlights include:
Lionfish Global – Sept-Oct 2018
This was our first operation against illicit drugs and substances to take place on a global scale. Simultaneously, 93 countries combined forces and resources to enhance and intensify the exchange of information on illicit drugs.
- Seizures: 55 tonnes of illicit substances and drugs including more than 35 tonnes of cocaine, five tonnes of heroin, 15 tonnes of cannabis, 18 million Yaba tablets and 430,000 Captagon tablets.
- Arrests: 1,300
- Countries: 93
Lionfish Sandcat (Middle East) – April 2018
This was our first operation against illegal drugs to take place in the Middle East. Police have made record seizures of Captagon in recent years, an amphetamine-based substance produced in the region, indicating a strong growth in demand. At the same time, an increasing amount of crystal methamphetamine is being trafficked into the region, pointing to the emergence of new trafficking routes.
- Seizures: 29 kg of heroin, 10,000 Captagon tablets, 31,860 Tramadol tablets and 7 million Benzhexol tablets
- Arrests: 25
- Countries: 14
Lionfish Mihadarati (Africa) – November 2017
Precursor chemicals are used in the illegal manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances. Although they are not typically produced in Africa, authorities in Nigeria and Zambia made three separate seizures of ephedrine, totalling 39 kg. Similarly, South African authorities seized approximately 25 kg of acetic anhydride.
- Seizures: 3.6 tonnes of drugs and precursors
- Arrests: 130
- Countries: 21
Lionfish Asia-Pacific – September 2017
More than 5,000 police and customs officials conducted checks at land, air and seaports across 23 countries and seized illicit drugs including cocaine, cannabis, heroin, opium and amphetamine-type stimulants. Participating countries monitored cocaine trafficking routes from South America to the Asia-Pacific region via Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia and also identified new methamphetamine trafficking routes.
- Seizures: 10 tonnes, 24 litres and 29,000 tablets
- Estimated value: USD 360 million
- Arrests: 300
- Countries: 23
- Participants: 5,000 police and customs officials
Lionfish ASEAN – May 2017
Intelligence sharing under Lionfish-ASEAN revealed a network of West African and Asian organized crime groups behind trafficking in methamphetamine – one of the most smuggled drugs in the region − and helped identify a cocaine trafficking route via Ethiopia to destinations in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates identified an increasing trend of liquid cocaine being trafficked by smugglers who would swallow condoms packed with the substance. At their request, we issued a Purple Notice to all our member countries outlining this modus operandi and methods for detection.
- Seizures: 350 kg, 50 litres and 2,175 tablets
- Estimated value: USD 18 million
- Countries: 16
- Participants: 2,000 police and customs officials
Lionfish III (Americas) – March 2017
Operation Lionfish III involved 13 countries across Latin America and West Africa, and the seizure of drugs including cocaine, cannabis and heroin. The operation also highlighted how precursor chemicals are being diverted from legitimate to illicit purposes, with 20 clandestine laboratories dismantled and three tonnes of precursor chemicals seized.
- Seizures: 55 tonnes
- Estimated value: more than USD 950 million
- Arrests: 357
- Countries: 13
- Participants: 5,000 police and customs officials
