A 52-year-old man was arrested on Thursday after he was busted with $1.3 million worth of cocaine at Belmont squatting area, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

According to a release from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Suresh Persaud, is currently in custody assisting with investigations.

On the date in question, CANU Officers conducted an operation at a location in the Belmont squatting area.

“A subsequent search of the premises led to the discovery of several parcels of a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine in the possession of a male who was present at the location,” the release highlighted.

Persaud was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters with the suspected narcotic. The narcotic tested positive for cocaine amounting to approximately 1.216 kg (about 2.7 lbs.), with a street value of approximately $1.3 million. Investigations are still ongoing.