The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Saturday destroyed a total of 1009 kg of local and foreign marijuana with a street value of a whopping US$2.5 million which is equivalent to G$500,000,000.
The destruction exercise took place at the former Ministry of Housing tarmac, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown. The ganja was from cases that were disposed of by the Magistrates’ Courts.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn along with CANU Head James Singh and other officials witnessed the burning exercise.
Singh stated that the quantity of narcotics burnt is just a fraction of the among of drugs seized for the year 2023.
The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, through the period January to June 2023, seized approximately 677.40 kg of narcotics, consisting of 662.40 kg of cannabis, 14.80 kg of cocaine, 10 grams of hashish, and 90 grams of ecstasy.
Tests on the drugs are being conducted
The Unit also made seizures of 4 firearms and a total of 1087 ammunition seizures encompassing a diverse range of types. For the said period, the Unit handled a total of 30 cases and secured 27 convictions.
The Unit also made seizures of four firearms and a total of 1087 ammunition seizures encompassing a diverse range of types. For the said period, the Unit handled a total of 30 cases and secured 27 convictions.
CANU has also placed great emphasis on the areas of demand reduction, and institutional strengthening, collaborating with various agencies in this sector, conducting school drug prevention sensitisations throughout the country as well as working on other projects that will facilitate the development of treatment and reintegration of recovering substance users.
Only recently, Singh stated that he was pleased with the performance of the Unit while praising President Ali’s multi-agency approach that is taken to fight drug traffickers consisting of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
He also referenced several other factors that were helpful, including the establishment of a maritime section, the establishment of a joint container scanning section, a metal inspection section, the presence of CANU at key locations across the country, and more importantly, improved relationships with the public and private sector.
He added that while Guyana is deemed a transhipment point for cocaine and other drugs, this is gradually being addressed with some optimism of breaking that stereotype.
The 1009 kg of ganja set alight
“We want to send a strong message that the Government is serious about fighting narcotics within Guyana and also Guyana will not be used as a transhipment point for narcotics to other territories.”
He nevertheless reiterated that the Government, through the Home Affairs Ministry, has been providing the necessary resources to tackle and put a dent in the drug trade. “The performance of CANU is an example of the GoG desire to fight the drug trade in trade,” he added.
Back in January, CANU destroyed 140.6 kilograms (kg) of seized cocaine and 454.7kg of seized marijuana. This totals around 596kg of narcotics that were destroyed and are from cases that have concluded in the Magistrates’ Courts.
In 2022, a total of 3.7 tonnes of marijuana and over 124kg of cocaine were seized from various ports of entry and through operations within the country.
