Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs: Suriname Summary

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) works to keep Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.

Challenges

Suriname is a transit zone for South American cocaine en route to Europe, Africa, and, to a lesser extent, the United States. Suriname struggles with weak institutions, a declining economy, and a lack of government capacity to combat crime and corruption.

Goals

The United States seeks to foster a democratic and stable Suriname. INL assistance under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) works to impede narcotics trafficking and counter transnational threats by strengthening Suriname’s counternarcotics capabilities and its anti-money laundering and financial crimes prosecution capacities.

Accomplishments

The INL-supported UN Office on Drugs and Crime Container Control Programme (CCP) Port Control Unit (PCU) in Suriname helped seize 855 kg of cocaine destined for Belgium in 2019. In 2019, the INL-supported PCU contributed to seizures of 3.155 metric tons of cocaine. Through the CCP, INL provides Suriname’s interagency PCU with training, technical assistance, and equipment.