Last Updated on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, 22:00 by Writer
Guyana is among several Caribbean countries that is part of a regional drone network that shares information simultaneously among participating nations, the Suriname government said.
The network codenamed ‘The Osprey Nexus Initiative’ is supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
“An essential part of The Osprey Nexus Initiative is the cross-border sharing of information. The data and images collected by the drones are shared between the participating countries. This creates a regional information network, improving the detection and tracking of criminals in the region,” the Suriname government said in a statement.
In a coordinated operation, simultaneous drone training was conducted in both Suriname and the Bahamas between March 23 and 27.
This initiative, supported by the UNODC, marks the beginning of a new era in which real-time data and international cooperation guarantee safety in our waters, authorities said.
While a specialised delegation trained with the Bahamas Royal Defence Force in the Bahamas, the Suriname Coast Guard conducted simultaneous exercises on Surinamese soil to immediately integrate the new tactics into local operations.
In addition to Suriname, partners from Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic also participated in this large-scale training program simultaneously in their respective countries, the Suriname government said.
The government in Paramaribo said the drones serve as the ‘eyes in the sky’ and fundamentally change the way the Suriname Coast Guard operates.
The focus is on information-driven operations:
- Tactical Boarding: Drones gather crucial intelligence before a team boards and continue to inform and assist the team from the air throughout the entire procedure.
- Combating IUUF: Tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, a direct threat to countries’ national resources.
- Anti-Smuggling Operations: Effective detection of drug and human smuggling on the open sea from a hard-to-detect position.
- Search and Rescue: Lightning-fast localisation during Man Overboard (MOB) incidents and remote medical support.
In recognition of the increasing professionalism of the maritime authorities, the Suriname government said UNODC would shortly donate drones to the Suriname Coast Guard.
This high-end equipment will be deployed operationally immediately following a thorough evaluation of the exercises, the government added.
“With the deployment of drones within Osprey Nexus, we not only increase our striking power but also minimize the risks for our personnel. We will be better prepared and able to board a vessel with fewer risks,” according to the Coast Guard of Suriname.
