CANU intercepts 120lbs ganja in Route 50 minibus at BV

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) continues to put a dent in the drug trade, with another successful interception along the Beterverwagting Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Saturday.

Based on information received, on the day in question, agents of the drug enforcement unit received information and as such initiated an operation along the Beterverwagting Railway Embankment.
During the operation, a Route 50 minibus bearing registration number BXX 6792 was intercepted. At the time, the driver was the only occupant of the vehicle. However, a search was conducted on the minibus and several parcels of well-wrapped cannabis were unearthed.
The driver, Lal Bahadur ByJoo, 58, of Plantation Hope, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was immediately taken into custody along with the large quantity of marijuana.
At CANU Headquarters, the ganja, when weighed, amounted to 54.2kg (120lbs). The alleged drug trafficker remains in custody assisting with investigations.
For the year thus far, CANU has had major successes in intercepting and charging persons involved in drug trafficking. In actuality, CANU had reported that at the end of June this year, 15 persons were convicted of drug-related offences in Guyana.

CANU said by the end of this period in June, the Unit had 15 convictions and 74 pending cases in court. The total convictions for the year stemmed from matters occurring in the years 2021 to 2022.
However, a total of seven persons were convicted during the three-month reporting period – three for a matter occurring in 2021 and the other four for matters occurring this year. These persons were sentenced to a total of 15 years and 5 months and were fined approximately $35 million in total. One of the persons convicted was sentenced to community service.
“For the first quarter, the Unit had 74 open cases. During the second quarter, the Unit filed 23 cases, and 83 cases are still pending. However, only eight per cent of the cases had led to convictions by the end of the second quarter, with four per cent of them being dropped or withdrawn. This might have been as a result of insufficient evidence, issues with the witnesses, or issues with the legal procedure,” the report about CANU’s operation detailed.
Meanwhile, it detained 41 people between April and June, and of this amount, 27 persons have been charged and 23 cases filed in relation to narco-trafficking activities.

Approximately 66 per cent of the 41 persons detained were charged with drug offences, with males accounting for 85 per cent and females 15 per cent. Of the total charges, 74 per cent were for cannabis offences, 22 per cent for cocaine and four per cent for ecstasy offences.
The 30 to 50 age group has the highest arrest rate of 41 per cent while persons under the age of 18 accounted for two per cent of arrests during this period.
CANU further disclosed that it has accomplished more convictions, arrests, and charges during this year’s second quarter when compared to the same period in 2021. The Unit credited this “successful quarter” to its dedicated officers in various departments working in a coordinating manner to execute operations as well as cooperation with other agencies.

Seizures
On the other hand, it was highlighted that CANU recorded a reduction in narcotics seized during this period in comparison to last year. A total of 201.738 kilograms of narcotics were seized between April and June.
Cannabis continues to record the highest number of seizures as well as quantity, with a total of 161.21 kg netted by the Unit within the three months. This is followed by cocaine, of which some 40.37 kg was seized, and then by ecstasy, which accounts for approximately 0.150 grams.
During this time, the largest quantity of narcotics was seized on the roadways. Residences, wharves and postal areas were the other hotspots for drug busts.
According to the report, these narcotics seized between April and June amounted to approximately $206 million worth of illicit drugs removed from the drug market and taken off the streets.
Back in April, CANU had destroyed over 1500 kg (almost 3400 lbs) of cannabis valued over US$2 million that were seized in the previous year.
In addition to narcotics, CANU also seized six firearms along with matching ammunition for five of them. Among these illegal weapons seized was a shotgun. This is in comparison to no firearms seized in 2021.