More than 14,000 suspects were arrested and nearly 8,000 weapons of all types were seized in a major police operation coordinated by Interpol in Latin American countries.

As announced by the international organization based in Lyon, the operation codenamed Trigger IX was conducted from March 12 to April 2.

203 tons of cocaine and other narcotics were seized, with an estimated value of $5.7 billion.

Also, 372 tons of chemicals used in the manufacture of drugs (heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and others) were found and confiscated.

In total, authorities in Central and South American countries made 14,260 arrests. 8,263 illegal guns and 305,000 magazines were seized “in the biggest operation to tackle illegal arms trafficking ever coordinated by Interpol”.

They were trafficked by two European citizens, according to the international police.

“The fact that an operation against illegal weapons resulted in the seizure of huge quantities of drugs is further evidence that these offenses are linked,” commented Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

Trigger X also led to the uncovering of a number of other crimes – from corruption cases to acts of terrorism. A total of 20 criminal networks operating in various countries were dismantled.

Among others, members of the Balkan Cartel, the powerful Brazilian criminal organization Primeiro Comando da Capital and Mara Salvatrucha, the Salvadoran mafia, were arrested. All these organizations operate in Central America and the USA and are involved in arms smuggling.

Eleven victims of human trafficking were released in Paraguay thanks to this operation.

Trigger IX involved 15 countries in the region and about 100 law enforcement agencies, including the US Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives.