152lbs ganja found hidden in barrels at Norton Street house

…1 arrested as CANU continues investigating
…CANU Head says new National Drug Strategy Master Plan being developed

As the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) continues to put a dent on the drug trade in Guyana, agents of the drug enforcement unit on Thursday discovered 152 pounds of both local and foreign cannabis at a house in Norton Street, Georgetown.

Based on information received from CANU, the discovery was made during an operation by members of the unit after receiving information. During the operation, on the upper flat of the building at Lot 42 Norton Street, Georgetown, three plastic barrels were found. Upon inspection, several well wrapped parcels containing the cannabis were found.
At time of the discovery, the lone person at home – a male – was arrested and taken to CANU Headquarters, where he is being interrogated.
One week ago, a joint operation between the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had led to the discovery of 543 pounds of ganja at Campbell Avenue, Georgetown. Based on reports received, that search was conducted at two locations and on a Route 32 minibus.
Following the discovery, two persons were arrested and taken to CANU Headquarters, where they are assisting with investigations.
Back in June, the drug enforcement unit had unearthed 136.4 kilograms (300lbs) of ganja at Unity, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
It was reported that ranks were conducting an operation when they found a 17-foot wooden boat along the Unity foreshore with a large fertiliser bag filled with marijuana.

A search of a nearby coconut grove led to the discovery of an additional 17 bags of marijuana. The 18 bags contained a total of 300lbs of ganja, which was valued at $18 million. One person was arrested.
Then in July, two persons were arrested after the drug enforcement unit intercepted a vehicle and discovered 73lbs (33.2 kg) of cannabis.
CANU had reported that their officers, during an operation on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), stopped a vehicle along the Lusignan Prison Road and discovered the large quantity of ganja.
In an invited comment, Head of CANU, James Singh, had stated that his unit would continue to track down the traffickers in order to put a dent in the trade locally.
He added that his team has been working around the clock along with other agencies, following every lead at its disposal in order to rid the streets and communities of the commodity as part of the Government’s mandate to stem the flow of narcotics.
Singh added that most of the foreign marijuana is for onward territories, while some remain for domestic consumption. He further stated that a National Drug Strategy Master Plan is being developed with the Home Affairs Ministry and other stakeholders to ensure the sustained safety and security of its citizens against trafficking well into the future.
He contended that the drug problem clearly requires an holistic, balanced, and multidisciplinary response, and in order to deliver this, the plan has to be done in such a way as to utilise a common and shared sense of responsibility among all sectors and stakeholder agencies.