POLICE officers stationed at ‘E’ Division (Upper Demerara-Berbice), continue to combat marijuana cultivation through eradication exercises. The latest of these were conducted on Saturday and Sunday when thousands of marijuana plants were destroyed.

Acting on information, ranks on Saturday discovered a one-and-a-half acre marijuana field at the Wisroc backlands. The field had approximately 3,000 plants ranging from one foot to six feet.

They also discovered makeshift tents, hammocks, kitchen utensils and a quantity of dry cannabis. The plants weighed approximately 250 kg. The field was destroyed by fire.

On Sunday, between 10:30hrs and 12:00hrs, ranks, again acting on information, discovered a seven-acre marijuana farm on Ituni road. There were approximately 7,000 plants ranging from two feet to six feet in height and weighed an estimated 485 kg. Ranks also discovered a makeshift camp, kitchen utensils and food items. They were all destroyed by fire.

While no arrest was made, Commander of ‘E’ Division, Linden Lord, said that information will be sought from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to determine the owners of the lands. He said that marijuana cultivators are becoming braver in the division, since

these discoveries were made closer to inhabited lands. For 2019, over ten fields were discovered and destroyed in the division. These raids, Lord had said, were through a proactive attitude on the part of the ranks, who kept their ears to the ground to receive intelligence-led information as well as remaining active and vigilant in not only Linden, but outlying areas, where the fields are normally discovered.