Factors and actors that make the Lesser Antilles a key region for the transit and storage of CHC to the United States and Europe

Abstract

The article analyzes the factors and actors that make the Lesser Antilles a key region for the transit and storage of illicit substance (CHC) shipments bound for the United States and Europe. It argues that, in recent years, the Caribbean Sea has experienced significant growth in its importance as a hub for tourism and international maritime trade, attracting the attention of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and organized criminal groups (OCGs) involved in maritime drug trafficking. These illicit actors have intensified their activities in search of secure maritime routes to consolidate the trafficking and commercialization of narcotics toward the major drug markets in North America and Europe.

The article highlights that the Lesser Antilles, due to their geographical, political, and economic diversity, provide a conducive environment for narcotrafficking activities. Of the 30 territories in the Caribbean, fewer than 15 are sovereign, while the majority maintain dependent relationships with external countries. This situation results in a variety of legal frameworks regarding the control of their aquatic spaces, complicating the exercise of effective and sovereign control by competent authorities. Additionally, the presence of uninhabited islands in the region facilitates the temporary storage of drugs, clandestine transportation, and their subsequent distribution to illegal markets.

The study concludes that the Lesser Antilles have become a critical point in the drug trafficking chain to the United States and Europe due to the geographical, political, and legal conditions that favor the concealment and movement of illicit substances, posing a significant challenge to the region's security and sovereignty.