Sernic announces seizure of almost 150 kg of methamphetamine in Nampula

O Mozambique's National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) today announced the seizure of nearly 150 kilograms of methamphetamine in the province of Nampula, having arrested a Mozambican citizen.

“ This result represents, for the country, another important milestone in combating transactional organized crime, focusing on drug trafficking ", says a Sernic note.

The seizure, of 152 bowls totaling 145.65 kilograms of methamphetamine, was made on the beach of Chocas Mar, Mossuril district, Nampula province, and the Mozambican citizen was arrested “in possession of part of the drug”.

Mozambican authorities denounced in October the presence in the country of international drug trafficking networks, namely two Mexican cartels, one Brazilian criminal organization and another Pakistani, expressing concern with the use of corruption to penetrate the state institutions.

“ We effectively have three criminal groups that are dedicated to drug trafficking or strive to carry out their operations in Mozambique,” said the Director-General of Sernic, Ilídio Miguel, at the National Conference on Drug Prevention and Combat in Maputo.

According to Ilídio Miguel, the Pakistani network was particularly active in the 1990s and again gained expression from 2019, while the Mexican cartels of Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation operate on the southern route.

The other organization identified is the First Brazilian Capital Command (CPC).

Mozambican authorities point to the infiltration of members of these criminal networks into state institutions, using corruption to facilitate their operations.

“ In fact, we have signs and elements that show that they are active, very active, and we are very concerned about the ability to penetrate the state institutions to achieve their intentions,” he said.

According to the person responsible, since 2022 there has been a reduction in the use of land routes and the coastal zone, especially in the north of the country, with increasing use of the air route for drug transport.

Since January, he added, at least six people associated with the Sinaloa cartel have been arrested in processes related to the seizure of five tons of fentanyl.