Police, CANU seize drugs, destroy cannabis field in coordinated operations

Law enforcement agencies carried out major anti-narcotics operations on Wednesday, targeting both cocaine trafficking and cannabis cultivation across Guyana.

In Berbice, police ranks led by a gazetted officer, conducted a cannabis eradication exercise at Wel te Vreeden, Canje Creek, between 4:00h and 12:30h. During the operation, a one-acre plot was discovered containing approximately 950 cannabis plants, ranging from two to five feet in height. A makeshift camp was also found at the site. Police destroyed both the plants and the camp by fire. No arrests were made, and the operation was completed without incident. The estimated value of the destroyed cannabis was GYD965,580.
Meanwhile, officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), acting on information received, intercepted a motor vehicle along the La Grange Public Road, West Bank Demerara. A subsequent search revealed 20 brick-like parcels containing cocaine, weighing a total of 22.394 kilograms. Two suspects were arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters along with the narcotics. Investigations into both operations are ongoing.

These recent seizures build on a broader pattern of anti-narcotics success in Guyana. According to CANU, an estimated GYD $433.9 million in narcotics was removed from circulation in 2025, resulting in 62 charges and 29 convictions. Cocaine and cannabis accounted for the majority of seizures, with 235.9 kilograms of cocaine and 726.3 kilograms of cannabis confiscated. Smaller amounts of ecstasy, methamphetamine, and cannabis products were also seized.
CANU said intelligence-driven interdiction operations last year targeted trafficking routes, organized criminal networks, and high-risk ports and border points, reinforcing Guyana’s shift from a passive transit country to an active regional disruptor. The formal launch of the National Early Warning System in 2025 also strengthened the nation’s ability to detect and respond to emerging drug threats.
With these January operations, CANU and the police have already removed millions more in narcotics from circulation, demonstrating continued vigilance in disrupting both local cultivation and trafficking networks.