8000 ganja plants, nursery destroyed during drug eradication exercises

Large quantities of suspected cannabis plants and nurseries were destroyed during an eradication exercise conducted over the weekend in the Upper Berbice River area as Police continued operations targeting illegal cultivation in remote interior locations. At Ebini Savannah, Upper Berbice River, an eradication exercise was conducted on Sunday, between 04:00h and 19:00h. During the operation, investigators discovered a cultivated farm measuring approximately two acres on which about 8000 suspected cannabis plants were found. The plants ranged in height from approximately one foot to four feet. Further checks in the area led to the discovery of another farm measuring approximately two acres, which had been ploughed and prepared for planting.

In addition, about 6,000 suspected cannabis nursery plants were discovered under three makeshift camps located near the farms. The cannabis plants, nursery plants and the makeshift camps were destroyed by fire. No arrests were made and the operation was completed without incident. Investigations remain ongoing. This discovery comes just days after police conducted the previous day at Surwanda Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, an eradication exercise carried out between 16:00h and 18:50h resulted in the destruction of approximately 350 suspected cannabis plants. That operation uncovered a cultivated one-acre plot containing plants ranging in height from about two inches to one foot. Two makeshift camps were also discovered during the Middle Mazaruni exercise. The suspected cannabis plants, seedlings and the camps were destroyed by fire. No arrests were made, and the exercise was also completed without incident. The recent eradication exercises follow a similar operation conducted on January 14 at Wel te Vreeden, Canje Creek, Berbice, where approximately 950 suspected cannabis plants ranging from two to five feet in height were discovered on a one-acre plot, along with a makeshift camp. The plants and camp were destroyed by fire. Eradication operations are continuing as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal cannabis cultivation, particularly in interior and riverine areas that are often used for large-scale farming activities.