April 15, 2025
Operation Calypso, a joint operation between the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), brought together 28 Customs administrations from across the Caribbean to detect and intercept illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), their components, ammunition, narcotics, and other restricted and prohibited high-risk goods. Conducted over a three-week period in November 2024, the Operation forms part of the WCO Project BOLT, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and directly supports the goals of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
“Operation Calypso represents a landmark in Customs cooperation in the Caribbean,” said Ian Saunders, WCO Secretary General. “Through unity and intelligence-led enforcement, we are making our borders stronger and communities safer.”
Why Operation Calypso?
The Operation was launched in response to the growing threat of firearms trafficking and drug smuggling in the Caribbean, a region increasingly affected by evolving patterns of poly-criminality, where multiple forms of transnational crime intersect across borders. By enhancing detection capabilities and promoting real-time operational coordination, Operation Calypso aims to reinforce regional security and stability across the Americas.
Planning and Preparation
Planning began in October 2024, when participating WCO Members met online for a pre-operational meeting, followed by a joint threat briefing with international and regional partners, including INTERPOL, SEACOP (an EU-funded project), and CARICOM IMPACS.
During the operational phase in November, nine WCO Member Customs administrations deployed officers to the Operational Coordination Unit (OCU) hosted in Barbados, working jointly to coordinate enforcement efforts.
What We Achieved: Key Results
Over the course of three weeks, all 28 participating Customs administrations actively engaged in the Operation, exchanging real-time intelligence and case reporting through the WCO CENcomm platform. Support was provided by international and regional partners, including the UNODC Passenger and Cargo Control Programme, INTERPOL, SEACOP, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Homeland Security Joint Task Force – East (JTF-E), the Regional Security System (RSS), and the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC).
The Operation yielded significant enforcement outcomes. In total, 234 cases were reported. Semi-automatic pistols being the most frequently intercepted firearm type, followed by firearm ammunition. In total, more than 350 firearms and their components were seized along with approximately 8,250 pieces of ammunition and their parts.
Participating Customs administrations reported multiple seizures of drugs: more than one tonne of cannabis was predominantly intercepted upon import into the region. One tonne of cocaine, was seized mainly at export, highlighting the Caribbean’s role as a key transit hub for the illicit drug trade, since cocaine is not produced in the region.
Several Customs administrations reported eight seizures of undeclared bulk cash, amounting to approximately USD 2.93 million, with the money detected in baggage and in multiple currencies. Additionally, over 118 kilogrammes of gold were seized, all concealed in luggage.
Other seizures included smaller volumes of strategic goods, tobacco, hazardous materials, and pharmaceuticals.
Building Regional Cooperation
Operation Calypso highlighted the value of joint operations and international cooperation in tackling transnational crime. Customs and partner agencies collaborated on intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement actions, and conducted joint risk assessments in real time.
A post-operation debrief, hosted by the WCO and CARICOM IMPACS, brought together participants to review outcomes and set a roadmap for a follow-up operation in 2026.
Beyond the operational results, Operation Calypso served as a platform to enhance regional Customs-to-Customs cooperation, strengthen trust among stakeholders, and support national efforts aligned with the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap. The WCO remains committed to working alongside its Members and partners to reinforce border security, dismantle trafficking networks, and safeguard communities across the Caribbean and beyond.