The French authorities have recently intercepted drugs, protected wildlife and wanted criminals from Suriname during a string of successful police operations. From March 31st until April 6th the French police arrested 86 suspects who tried to sneak into French Guiana without legal documents or a visa. All of these people were sent back to Suriname via the official route. The police operations are part of Operation  ATIPA, a coordinated effort of various French security forces that is aimed at tackling illegal immigration and transnational crime. The French authorities inspected 143 canoes and screened 663 people in total in the first week of April. “During the weekend the operation was expanded on both sides of the Marowijne River with the assistance of the KPS. This joint operation has improved the effectiveness of the border patrol operation on both shores,” said the French information service. The joint operation is also aimed at intercepting goods from Suriname that do not meet European certification standards.