AS local law enforcement officials up the ante against the illegal drug trade consolidating itself in Guyana, they have intercepted and taken off the streets more than US$2M (or Gy$400M) worth of compressed marijuana and cocaine during heightened collaboration. On Saturday, the ultimate disposal of 40 kilos of cocaine and 105 kilos of compressed marijuana, by burning, was conducted by CANU ranks at their headquarters on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown.
The operation was overseen by CANU Head, Mr. James Singh and witnessed by members of the local print and electronic media.
The stocks burnt were seized on two occasions during this year, the first being on last Valentine’s Day and the other about two weeks ago in Berbice. Heavy exchanges of gunfire had resulted between CANU ranks and the smugglers in the operations.
Basing their opinions on indications, officials have suggested that the drugs were not destined for Guyana, but for onward trans-shipment to some other country. They point to two things: the drugs came in very large (wholesale) quantities, rendering use uneconomical in the region, particularly given the exorbitant prices they fetch; and the dealers do not use the drugs because they know and understand the risks involved.
“Most people who try using cocaine end up dead. It’s a poison, and we are trying our best to keep it off the streets of any country,” Singh stated.
The cocaine seized in Berbice was said to have been brought from Venezuela by boat and dropped off at a certain point shortly before midnight, based on the evidence pieced together. It was very likely for a destination in Europe. But generally, the drugs come from the Andean Region, where coca and marijuana are grown predominantly.
Stacked one-kilogramme packets of cocaine carry an estimated wholesale value of between US$25,000 and US$35,000 per packet, but price varies, depending on the destination or the market in which the illicit substance finds itself, CANU Head, James Singh, said.
Explaining that logistics make a big difference in cost, Singh declared: “As the distance increases, the price becomes more.” Hence, for destinations such as Africa and Europe, the price is likely to be increasingly higher.
Singh noted that CANU, the Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad (BASS), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs have collaboratively been joining hands to fight the deadly scourge.
Even though the drugs intercepted here are invariably not for local use, authorities are still very much concerned when they are found here, since it would signal that Guyana could, in time, become a drug trans-shipment route, if this is not nipped in the bud.
The CANU boss emphasized that everything is being done to ensure Guyana does not become a ‘drugs trans-shipment route’. “We are working on efforts at close collaboration with everyone – locally and internationally…,” he said.
For the year so far, CANU has intercepted and seized some 115 kilos of narcotics and has ventured into heightened collaboration with regional partners.  Through regional information sharing, large quantities of marijuana and cocaine have been seized in sister Caribbean countries, such as St. Lucia and Barbados.
Singh said that in the scheme of things, success would have been realized were Guyana able to shut down the network here and where it [the drug] is going.
“It’s not just about seizing drugs, but also about shutting down the networks, disrupting the networks, and making it harder and more expensive for these guys to trans-ship here or anywhere in the region,” Singh said.
And commenting on the level of success achieved in the fight against drugs in recent times, the CANU boss said it is for the public out there to comment. “You have seen what we are doing.”
Albeit,  alluding to the cliché, ‘facts are stubborn things’, Singh pointed to improvements in  CANU, adding that, over the last three or four years, CANU has been seizing more drugs against a situation where the drug dealers are trying harder and getting more desperate.
“You look at the airport, there is not as much drugs being held overseas as in the past. It means that the combined enforcement working closer together is working. We are making a difference; we want to send that message out publicly.
“People must know that we are pursuing these guys. No longer can you read about Guyana … or more drugs turning up at the airport,” Singh posited.
He noted a stark difference to the times when each month there were complaints and criticisms about the unit not doing enough.
Some of the more recent narcotics’ catches include:  25 kilos which came by road earlier this year, and for which one man was arrested, charged and imprisoned.
Meanwhile, another 40 kilos of cocaine were intercepted in the Crabwood Creek/ Linepath Skeldon area on Thursday at around 6:00 hrs. Six persons were arrested. Singh, however, noted that only four suspects were eventually detained to assist with the investigations.
He said the interception of the 40 kilos of cocaine was done during a CANU operation, adding that for a few days prior to Thursday’s bust, officers had the area where the operation took place under surveillance.
The cocaine was said to have come from the North West District (Region One), and was believed to be en route to Suriname.
And on Thursday also, five Guyanese were held with 62.5 kilos (138 lbs) of cocaine and 183.5 kilos (404.5 lbs) of marijuana when a Guyanese vessel was seized in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The vessel, the MV Ocean Harvest, which left Guyana from a fertilizer wharf two Fridays ago, was intercepted by Barbadian port authorities at the Bridgetown Port. A Barbados-registered fishing vessel was also seized off the Sandy Beach coast.
Here in Guyana, it was noted that the majority of cocaine and marijuana being trafficked come through the waterways, the dealers taking advantage of the open vulnerability, now that the police have intensified road activities.