350 ganja plants destroyed in eradication exercise

Hundreds of suspected cannabis plants were destroyed on Saturday during an eradication exercise at Surwanda Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, as law enforcement intensified efforts to curb illegal cultivation in remote interior locations. The operation, conducted between 16:00h and 18:50h by ranks attached to the Regional Police Division Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni), led to the discovery of a cultivated one-acre plot containing approximately 350 cannabis plants. The plants ranged in height from about two inches to one foot. Investigators also uncovered two makeshift camps at the site. The suspected cannabis plants, seedlings and the camps were destroyed by fire. No arrests were made and the exercise was completed without incident. Investigations are continuing.
The Middle Mazaruni operation comes just over a week after a similar exercise at Wel te Vreeden, Canje Creek, Berbice, where nearly 1,000 cannabis plants were destroyed. In that January 14 operation, ranks discovered approximately 950 cannabis plants on a one-acre plot, ranging from two to five feet in height, along with a makeshift camp. The plants and camp were also destroyed by fire.
Police have indicated that eradication operations will continue as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal drug cultivation across the country.