Persons must provide proof of ownership to recover boats
– Merai
BERBICE Police Divisional Commander Steve Merai has said, only with the presentation of receipts and proof of ownership will the two boats seized on March 30, be returned to the owners.
He told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the Police have since been taken to Court over the seizure of the vessels now lodged at the Eve Leary, Georgetown headquarters. In a previous interview, the Assistant Commissioner had informed that the crafts,  fitted with 200 horsepower (hp) engines and smaller motors were found at the home of a suspected drug dealer at De Veldt, Berbice River.
According to Merai, searches were conducted at the suspect’s house as well as those of other residents which were found to be well equipped, including with a motor blower, a measuring scale and three power jacks.
Some of the other engines, which ranged from eight to 200 hp, were on boats moored in front of residents’ homes at De Veldt, Sand Hills, Tataballi and Gateroy but some of the smaller ones were not taken into custody because Police could not transport all.
The raids were conducted on the basis of  intelligence gathered and were part of an exercise to cut down the drug trade, Merai said and, during the operations, several cannabis (marijuana) fields were destroyed along with between 30 and 40 pounds of the compressed substance.
Meanwhile, Police yesterday conducted another drug eradication exercise at Gateroy and four fields of marijuana, spawning about eight acres, with approximately 15,000 plants, ranging in height from two to six feet, were destroyed.
In addition, five nurseries with about 35,000 seedlings, 300 pounds of dried marijuana and two camps were also trashed.
A man was arrested and a brushcutter and chainsaw seized.