CANU unearths cocaine in package shipped to Guyana

Two persons are currently in custody following a drug bust at a local shipping company’s bond in Timehri, East Bank Demerara, the Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Michael Atherly said.
Atherly in an interview with Guyana Times said the drugs were unearthed about a week ago at the terminal and a male and female were arrested. The two were hauled in for questioning after a package, which contained about 136 grams of cocaine, was unearthed.
“It came in in a parcel addressed to someone, a box,” the head of CANU said, while opting not to disclose whether the package arrived in the duo’s names, or if it they were the ones sending the package.
He would only say that no one had been charged yet as the investigation into the seizure continues.
Atherly explained that this seizure was not the first for the year as there has been one for at least the past three weeks by the department.
In addition to this, he said the Police have also seized some illegal drugs.
A total of 121,305.8 pounds of narcotics was seized in the year 2017, according to the National Anti-Narcotics Agency. Statistics for last year’s drug seizures are yet to be released to the public.
This was revealed in September last year when the Agency launched its annual report on the Guyana Drug Information Network (GUYDIN), which seeks to provide comprehensive data on drug supply-and-demand interventions for evidence-based policy and programme development.
Law enforcement agencies have seized a total of 55,139 kg of narcotics, which include substances such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy; and have even managed to eradicate over 117,000 kg of marijuana plants.
The drugs were said to be valued in excess of $20 billion, and were snatched from the streets, while more than 300 persons have also been convicted for various drug crimes.