SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – A coordinated police operation targeting illicit firearms trafficking and associated criminal activities has resulted in the seizure of 3,308 firearms and 56 tonnes of illegal drugs.
Operation Orca XI (15 October 2025 – 30 November 2025) was conducted across 20 countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, with coordination and support from INTERPOL.
In preparation for the operation, INTERPOL assisted participating countries in analyzing firearms trafficking intelligence, developing national threat assessments and coordinating cross-border information exchange, with support from the Organization of American States (OAS) to facilitate regional collaboration.
In addition to firearms seizures, participating authorities reported 8,701 arrests related to firearm and drug possession or trafficking, as well as various other crimes and offences. Officers also seized nearly 200,000 rounds of ammunition, USD 256,025 in cash and 210 vehicles.
Firearms trafficking in the region is inextricably linked to other forms of criminal activity, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and cybercrime. The organized criminal groups and gangs behind these crimes frequently utilize the same trafficking routes for multiple illicit commodities. Operation Orca XI highlighted this connection, with ten participating countries also reporting significant drug seizures, including:
• 6.9 tonnes of cocaine
• 659,403 units of coca plants
• 9.3 tonnes of cocaine base paste
• 38.5 tonnes of marijuana
• 2 tonnes of methamphetamine
• 11 kg of ketamine
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
“The thousands of firearms removed from circulation thanks to Operation Orca XI and the significant quantities of drugs seized, represent real progress in the fight against organized crime. INTERPOL’s commitment remains to support law enforcement agencies with the intelligence, tools and coordination they need to stay ahead of these evolving threats."
Albert R. Ramdin, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, said:
"This is what success looks like when hemispheric coordination and world-class technical and operational capacity join forces: thousands of firearms off the streets, drugs seized, and safer communities. Operation Orca XI proves that international cooperation and information sharing get results – and our security frameworks must continue delivering. The OAS stands ready to support member states with partners like INTERPOL for the benefit of the Americas."
Operational highlights: how illicit firearms fuel other serious crime
In a significant case from Colombia, authorities arrested 22 individuals as part of an investigation into terrorist financing and weapons trafficking. The suspects face charges including the manufacturing, trafficking, and possession of weapons, restricted ammunition, and explosives. They were also charged with offences linked to terrorism financing, demonstrating how targeting illicit firearms can serve as an entry point to tackling a range of serious crimes.
In Panama, authorities arrested one male and one female who were engaged in smuggling firearms and components. During their arrest, investigators located a military-style rifle inside a vehicle. The suspects were found to be involved in an organized arms trafficking operation that exploited courier and postal systems to transport prohibited firearms across borders.
An interinstitutional operation in Brazil dismantled a criminal network involved in drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms as part of Operation ORCA XI. Authorities seized two rifles, one submachine gun, two pistols, one grenade, illicit drugs, ammunition, communication equipment and notebooks containing drug trafficking records.
A major investigation in Chile led to the arrest of three individuals, the seizure of 580 kilograms of illicit drugs — equivalent to 3.5 million doses and valued at approximately USD 5.6 million — and the recovery of nine handguns. Authorities also froze 11 bank accounts linked to money laundering. The operation targeted a criminal network that moved drugs from northern Chile to central markets.
Note to editors
The operation was held in coordination with the Commission of Central American, Mexican, Caribbean and Colombian Police Chiefs and Directors with support from the Organization of American States (OAS) to facilitate regional collaboration.
Participating countries: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Uruguay.