Suriname: A Haven for Criminal Organizations and Money Laundering

A Perfect Storm for Organized Crime

A recent report has highlighted the significant presence of criminal organizations and money laundering activities in Suriname, a small country in South America. The country’s porous borders, lack of effective law enforcement, and corrupt government officials have created an environment conducive to organized crime.

Criminal Organizations Operating in Suriname

• Criminal organizations from the Netherlands, Colombia, Brazil, and Asia are operating in Suriname.
• These groups engage in illegal activities such as:
  • Drug trafficking
  • Human smuggling
  • Money laundering

The Asian diaspora is particularly prominent, with some individuals involved in fauna-related criminal markets.

Private Sector Complicity

• Large multinational corporations have been implicated in various criminal markets.
• Companies allegedly pressure government officials for lenient regulations, allowing illegal activities to flourish.
• In the mining sector, formal companies subcontract artisanal miners, and gold shops do not ask for paperwork for what they are buying.

Government Efforts to Combat Corruption and Financial Crimes

• The Surinamese government has taken some steps to combat corruption and financial crimes.
• However, many challenges remain:
  • Outdated, unenforced, and weak legal framework with most laws relating to organized crime not updated in the past two decades.
  • Corruption within the judiciary system and police force is a significant concern.

Border Control and Money Laundering

• The country’s borders are porous, with little infrastructure to monitor illegal crossings.
• Indigenous peoples who travel by river between villages that cross countries without identification create a loophole for criminals to exploit.
• Suriname is facing substantial challenges related to money laundering, primarily associated with cocaine, gold, and timber trafficking.

Oil Discovery and Gold Mining

• The discovery of oil resources in Suriname may create additional complications related to money laundering and corruption.
• Gold mining in Suriname is likely to attract transnational organized crime groups and some terrorist organizations, facilitating the flow of illicit funds and money laundering.

Efforts to Assist Victims and Prevent Crimes

• The Surinamese government has made notable efforts to assist victims of human trafficking and has strategies in place to prevent crimes.
• The country is part of regional initiatives on social crime prevention for at-risk youth.

Way Forward

• Strengthening law enforcement, improving the legal framework, and addressing corruption are essential steps towards creating a safer and more stable environment for its citizens.
• More needs to be done to address the root causes of organized crime in Suriname.