Rohee pleased with law enforcement on drug trafficking
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee declared, yesterday, that, despite a lot of attention in the media in relation to drug trafficking and related activities, he is very pleased with the work of the local law enforcement. Speaking at a press conference, he referred directly to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Narcotics Branch and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and said they are trying their best to deal with the situation.
Rohee acknowledged that, from time to time, there have been issues that would arise, like the missing cocaine from the Bartica Police Station, which he has asked to be fully investigated.
He noted that the Office of Professional Responsibilities (OPR) in the GPF has been tasked with the investigations but he believes, notwithstanding those negative factors which are unbalanced when looked at, the Police Narcotics Branch and CANU are making a determined effort to address the issues from a law enforcement perspective.
Rohee said, as far as the GPF is concerned, there were 100 cocaine seizures and 400 of cannabis sativa (marijuana), which amounted to US$1.3M in cocaine and total US$2.9M with cannabis. Hashish and ecstasy were also seized locally but the two do not appear to be prominent here.
The minister disclosed that 94 fields of cannabis plants were destroyed by the police and those cultivations, together with cocaine, amounted to US$704M. There were 54 convictions for cocaine and 189 for cannabis.
“So you can see, from these figures, that progress is being made. We also have the continuing trend with swallowers, who are still taking risks with their lives but they continue to be caught at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CIJA) owing to the alertness of law enforcement representatives there,” Rohee pointed out.
He also spoke about attempts to traffick through human swallowing, in false bottoms and walls of suitcases, shoe soles, fuel containers, in fish, shrimp, casareep, juice, achar, religious kunds, false back and bottom of wheelchairs, cargo containers etc.
Rohee added: “I think that the police are very much alert to the means through which these drugs are being exported from the country. We also have the situation through which persons are leaving the country and travelling to Brazil from where they journey to Africa and there has been a noticeable number of interdictions by the Brazilian Police in this respect.”
As for CANU, he said its records show that ranks have done 30 cocaine seizures in 2011, which valued US$5,000 and seized cannabis worth US$1M.
He said CANU made 38 arrests and secured 14 convictions.