Financial Crime World

Suriname’s Criminal Landscape: A Complex Web of Corruption and Crime

Despite being a relatively small country in South America, Suriname is believed to be plagued by a complex web of criminal activity, fueled by corruption and lack of effective governance.

The Criminal Landscape

  • Drug trafficking and human smuggling are dominant criminal activities
  • Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces, Brazilian criminal organizations, and Asian diaspora groups operate in the country
  • Private sector actors, including multinational corporations, involved in various criminal markets, such as human smuggling and informal Chinese labor

Government Efforts to Combat Corruption and Crime

  • Steps taken to combat corruption and financial crimes
  • However, entrenched state corruption, limited power, and a vice president with a convicted drug trafficking record hinder progress
  • Outdated, unenforced, and weak legal framework, with most laws related to organized crime not updated in over two decades
  • Judiciary system faces challenges due to corruption and financial dependence on the executive branch

Challenges in Law Enforcement and Justice System

  • Police force suffers from:
    • High rates of pre-trial incarceration
    • Poor conditions
    • Lack of infrastructure, which may encourage corruption and hinder the fight against organized crime
  • Porous borders, dense jungle coverage, and lack of air reconnaissance capabilities make it an attractive location for criminal activity
  • Country’s financial institutions implementing controls to address these issues

Economic Regulatory Environment

  • Poor protection of property rights
  • Corruption and lengthy licensing procedures undermine the rule of law
  • Lack of basic service delivery from the state exacerbates difficulties in the economic environment
  • Criminal groups with political connections can influence economic outcomes

Civil Society and Press Freedom

  • Well-formed civil society, with many groups and community organizations active across the country
  • However, press freedom violations have been reported, including assaults on journalists by security guards

Funding Disclosure

  • The US Department of State has provided funding for a summary of this report
  • The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.