Venezuelan duo in custody for US$2.6M cocaine bust at Vergenoegen

In light of the interception of US$2.6 million worth of cocaine at Vergenoegen, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Friday, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Sunday confirmed that two Venezuelan nationals were arrested and were assisting with investigations.
The two men were identified as 32-year-old Jose Felix Lindore and 33-year-old Javier Perez.
CANU on Saturday reported that a joint operation between the Unit and the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard has led to the interception of a vessel containing 536 kilograms (1181 lbs.) of cocaine at Vergenoegen, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
CANU stated that on the day in question, the two entities conducted a joint operation at Vergenoegen where they intercepted a go-fast vessel. At the time, there were two occupants on board.
A search of the vessel led to the discovery of a large quantity of narcotics along with a quantity of fuel and other items. The narcotics were tested for cocaine and weighed.
CANU stated that the street value in Guyana for the haul is estimated at US$2.6 million. However, had the cocaine been transhipped to its intended destination, it would have had an estimated street value of €20 million.

Just over one week ago, CANU Director James Singh stated that the drug enforcement unit seized a startling 1.1 tonnes of marijuana and over 75 kilograms of cocaine from various operations across the country.
He noted that a majority of the marijuana is from the Andean region of South America which includes Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
“We have over 75 kilos of cocaine and close to 1.1 tonnes of marijuana. Of the marijuana, about 90 per cent is foreign marijuana that came from the Andean region, known as “Creepy”,” Singh informed.
In contrast, CANU had seized approximately 1363.28 kilograms of narcotics throughout 2023, and cannabis sativa (ganja) accounted for 94 per cent of that total. From 18 operations conducted, 75.17 kilograms of cocaine were seized.