CANU wary of “bigger push” to move narcotics through Guyana

–  as over $429M worth of seized narcotics destroyed

With an increase in the amount of drugs intercepted in Guyana during the first half of this year, the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) has observed a growing push by foreign traffickers to move narcotics through the country.
Guyana has long been considered a transhipment haven for drug traffickers, given its geographical location within the region, coupled with its porous borders.
The Director of CANU, James Singh, told reporters on Saturday that traffickers are moving to get the drugs into markets where the demand and prices are higher, with fewer risks. He noted that Guyana makes for an easy route to pass the narcotics through.

“Guyana, being in the middle between the suppliers and the consumers… indeed, there’s been a bigger push to move the narcotics through [here],” Singh stated.
In fact, he pointed to a major operation recently that involved a foreign drug-trafficking organisation that attempted to bring narcotics into Guyana and have them further transhipped.
“Luckily, we were able to identify that group, conduct operations, and we were able to dismantle [them and] place some of them before the court… But the scale at which that group came is an indication… that yes, we should be worried because of [heightened] efforts to use Guyana as a gateway,” the CANU Director noted.
Just last month, Singh had indicated that the majority of the drugs, especially cocaine, that are seized in Guyana come from neighbouring Venezuela.

“I would say 90 per cent of drugs that we have seized – cocaine… the evidence shows that it would have come through Venezuela. Where it would’ve originated from, we have no idea, but the last place before it entered Guyana was Venezuela, and several persons arrested were Venezuelan nationals,” he said in a July 15 interview.
According to the CANU Head, his agency has been reaching out to counterparts in Venezuela to curb this illicit trade but to no avail.

Threats
Despite this, however, the anti-narcotics agency, working in collaboration with local and overseas partners, has managed to make a dent in the local and transnational narcotics drug trafficking networks, with increased interceptions and drug seizures recorded.
However, these efforts have put Singh in the limelight, with several threats being made against him by suspected criminal groups from Venezuela. Local authorities have been working with overseas counterparts to identify the source of these threats.
But according to Singh on Saturday, while he is concerned for his safety, as well as that of his officers and colleagues from other law enforcement agencies that are also involved in the efforts to combat the narcotics trade, they have received the necessary support from the government through better equipment that allows them to carry out their functions in a much safer manner.
This, he added, is complemented by support from international partners like the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and others that work to ensure that Guyana does not become a haven for drug cartels to move their products through.

Drug destruction
The CANU Director made these remarks on Saturday during a drug destruction exercise conducted at Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown, where a total of 1243.34 kilograms (kg) of narcotics, with an estimated local street value of some GY$429,797,900 (US$5,342,452/€5,803,114) were disposed of.
Among the narcotics destroyed by fire were 81.2678kg of cocaine valued at approximately GY$81,267,800 (US$2,438,034/€3,250,712); 1161.767 kg of cannabis worth GY$348,530,100 (US$2,904,418/€2,552,402); some 0.214kg of methamphetamine; and some 0.1kg of crystal meth.
The CANU Head explained that these narcotics were seized over the past three years in various operations and are now being destroyed following the completion of the respective court cases, during which they were used as evidence.
According to CANU, this continuous string of successful operations and interdictions conducted by its officers was aimed at disrupting local and transnational drug trafficking networks, removing illicit substances from communities, and dismantling illegal drug storage and supply chains across Guyana.
Saturday’s destruction exercise was conducted with the vital support of inter-agency partners. Representatives from the Guyana Forensic Laboratory were present to confirm the validity and composition of the narcotics being burned. Additionally, the Guyana Fire Service was on-site to ensure that the fire remained safely under control throughout the process, and ranks from the Guyana Police Force also provided their support.
Nevertheless, CANU said it remains steadfast in its mandate to disrupt drug trafficking efforts, safeguard national security, and collaborate with local and international partners to combat illicit narcotics operations.
Meanwhile, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, Dwayne Adams, who attended Saturday’s drug destruction exercise, commended CANU and its partnering agencies for their continued success in eradicating the illicit drug trade.
Only in July, CANU reported that some 519.49kg of narcotics, including cannabis, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and ecstasy, were seized by law enforcement officers along with 35 illegal firearms and 699 rounds of ammunition between January and June of this year.
During that half-year period, a total of 59 persons were arrested in relation to those discoveries – 44 of whom were formally charged. Additionally, the anti-drugs agency had also secured 19 convictions during the six months.