Latin American smugglers increasingly use commercial flights for their operations

Smugglers increasingly use commercial and cargo flights to transport illegal drugs, weapons and gold, according to a new analysis from InSight Crime.

Crime and corruption alerts at Latin American airports increased by 147% between 2021 and 2023, as reported by risk intelligence firm Osprey Flight Solutions (OFS). These alerts, based on continuous, real-time monitoring of air safety events, highlight Brazil, Mexico and Colombia as the main countries involved.

SFO data shows that smugglers use a variety of tactics to move illicit goods via air routes. Methods used include hiding goods in legal shipments, creating legitimate export companies to hide illegal shipments, and bribing airport authorities to facilitate drug trafficking.. The increase in alerts is likely linked to the resurgence of international flights after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

Brazil recorded the highest number of alerts, with 1,737 incidents between February 2021 and February 2024, mainly involving gold and drug trafficking. Illegal gold mining, which increased under the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro, and rising gold prices in 2021, contributed to the increase. Smugglers transport largely illegal gold from Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo to Dubai and the United States.

Cocaine trafficking routes in Brazil were also important, with alerts showing a connection from Manaus and São Paulo to Fortaleza, a key shipping point for cocaine to Africa.

Mexico comes in second with 700 alerts, mostly related to synthetic drug trafficking via domestic flights from Culiacán and Querétaro to U.S. border cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez. Traffickers favor air routes because of their shorter delivery times and the lower risk of interception.

Internationally, synthetic drugs from Mexico are trafficked to Hong Kong, a major drug hub in East Asia, where seizures increased by 32% at the start of 2024 compared to 2023. The SFO has also tracked synthetic drugs from Mexico to Australia via Hong Kong, indicating increasing consumption. air freight for the rapid transport of drugs.

Colombia comes third with 488 alerts, mainly involving cocaine trafficking by air cargo. Main routes connect Bogotá to San Andrés, a Caribbean island, as well as flights to Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Australia. Record cocaine production in Colombia has diversified smuggling methods, particularly by air. Alerts at Colombian airports increased by 275% between 2021 and 2023, with notable seizures in San Andrés.

San Andrés has become an important hub for national drug transit, using both air and sea routes. In July 2023, Colombian police intercepted 1.5 tons of cocaine at San Andrés Airport, shipped from western Colombia with the alleged help of airport employees.