Over $295M worth of ganja, shotguns found in Berbice

During raids along the Berbice River, ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) seized narcotics worth over $295 million, in addition to confiscating two shotguns and various other illicit items.

The operations, conducted between 04:00h and 11:00h on Friday, yielded significant findings, as detailed by Police Headquarters.
At one site, Police said ranks found 35,000 cannabis plants and two makeshift camps equipped with drying areas containing approximately 108.86 kilograms (240 pounds) of dry cannabis plants and seeds. A subsequent search of a nearby farm led to the discovery of a 12-gauge shotgun hidden by a tree, with a single cartridge.
The ranks then proceeded to Fort Nassau on the Berbice River, where they encountered a fleeing individual upon arrival. Despite efforts to apprehend the individual, he evaded capture. Subsequent searches of the area revealed a cache of illicit items within a house.
Police said they found a 12-gauge shotgun; components for two firearms (including stocks, trigger guards, barrels, springs, and firing pins); 125 12-gauge cartridges; six bulky parcels wrapped in transparent plastic and a brown salt bag containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.
Four hundred dry cannabis plants were also found concealed in the ceiling of the house. The total street value of the confiscated narcotics amounted to $295 million. Police transported the seized items, including the firearms and cannabis, to the Central Police Station. Despite the significant findings, no arrests were made during the operation.
Less than a week ago, a farm with millions worth of marijuana was found by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and destroyed.
Ranks stumbled upon the farm at Kaiwa, Upper Berbice River, as they conducted an eradication exercise.
According to Police, the farm was approximately four acres in size and had about 6000 cannabis plants ranging from six inches to four feet in height, with a total weight of 6600kg – a street value of $1,016,400. In addition, there was a small nursery that had approximately 20,000 seedlings.
Police said a makeshift camp nearby had kitchen utensils and groceries. The Police also found 54.431kg of dried cannabis, which carries a street value of $48,987, 900.
The farm, along with the nursery and camp, was destroyed.
Just days before that discovery, more than $570 million worth of ganja was destroyed at Wiruni and Kaiwa, communities along the Upper Berbice River.
Police have said that ranks travelled to Wiruni and discovered two cannabis farms. The first farm was about 20 acres in size, and had a makeshift camp and drying area where about 544.31kg (1200 lbs) of dried cannabis, which has a street value of over $489 million, were found.
The second farm was about 10 acres and had about 150,000 plants ranging in height from six to eight feet. The estimated cost of these plants is in excess of $50.8 million.
Ranks carried out another exercise at Kaiwa, where another two cannabis farms were discovered and destroyed.
The first farm was about five acres in size, and had approximately 1000 seedlings on several beds. In addition, 35,000 seedlings were found in a nearby nursery. This farm also had a large camp which had about 34.019 kg of dried cannabis, which has a street value of over $30.6 million.
The other farm, located about 100 feet away from the first one, was about two acres in size, and had about 2000 plants ranging in height from eight inches to four feet. The estimated weight of these plants was 2200 kg, with an estimated street value of $338,800,000.
The farms, nurseries, and narcotics were destroyed. At the time of the operation, no one was seen, thus no one was arrested.
About a month ago, a Police narcotics eradication exercise had led to the discovery of more than $151 million worth of marijuana at Ebini Backdam, a Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) community situated in the upper reaches of the Berbice River. (G9)