HGP NIGHTLY NEWS: President Dr. Irfaan Ali has renewed his administration’s warning about the growing threat of substance abuse in Guyana, cautioning that new and increasingly dangerous forms of drug use are spreading rapidly, particularly among young people.
Speaking during a national address at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Wednesday evening, the President said the country is facing a changing drug landscape, with emerging substances including hazardous forms of vaping and other drugs that impair mental and physical capacity. He stressed that the issue requires urgent, coordinated action centred on prevention, public education, and international cooperation.
“I wish to address these emerging forms of substance abuse directly, through informed policy, public education, and coordinated action that places prevention and protection at the centre of what we do,” President Ali said. He added that Guyana has a global responsibility to protect both the current generation and those to come.
The Head of State said the government is intensifying its collaboration with international partners, including the United States, to confront drug trafficking and smuggling networks operating across borders. He made it clear that the administration has no tolerance for those involved in the drug trade.
“Tens of thousands, millions of lives are destroyed; economies are destroyed by smuggling,” President Ali told reporters following the address, reiterating that traffickers will receive no sympathy from the state.
Guyana’s efforts have been recognised internationally. According to the United States Department of State’s 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), the country has demonstrated sustained commitment to working alongside international partners to combat drug trafficking. The report noted the involvement of several local agencies, including the Ministries of Home Affairs, Education, Health, and Human Services and Social Security, as well as the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit and the Guyana Police Force.
The INCSR also highlighted the September 2024 launch of the National Defence Institute, which aims to strengthen national security capacity through collaboration with CARICOM and United States defence and security institutions.
In terms of enforcement, the report pointed to increased drug seizures in 2024 as evidence of deepening cooperation between Guyana and the United States. That year, authorities seized more than four tonnes of cocaine during a joint operation at an airstrip near the Venezuelan border and intercepted a semi-submersible vessel off Guyana’s coast carrying approximately 2.3 tonnes of cocaine.
The report further referenced Guyana’s National Drug Strategy 2022–2026, which outlines a comprehensive framework for addressing drug-related challenges. The strategy focuses on interdiction, prevention, treatment, and anti-money laundering measures, forming the backbone of the country’s long-term response to both domestic substance abuse and international drug trafficking.
President Ali said the government remains committed to strengthening these efforts as part of a broader strategy to safeguard public health, national security, and social stability.
