CANU destroys $400M cocaine and marijuana

Nov 08, 2011 News

The Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Saturday burnt over $400 million worth of cocaine and compressed marijuana at the organisation’s headquarters on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.
The cocaine which totaled 30kg (66 pound) was seized during a CANU operation at No 66 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, on October 23, last, while the marijuana which weighed 105kg (231.4 pounds) was seized during an operation at the John Fernandes Wharf on February 21.
During the exercise on Saturday, CANU official tested the substances in the presence of media operatives. In the case of the cocaine, a solution was used which was initially red but turned blue afterwards which according to officials is the color to prove that the substance is indeed cocaine.
With respect to the marijuana, another test tube was used and the solution turned purple, indicating that it was cannabis. The cannabis was however mixed with formalin which was described as a strange occurrence.
According to CANU head, James Singh, there are other seizures which occurred but those cases have not yet been disposed of in the court hence the cocaine or marijuana cannot be destroyed.
Those that were destroyed on Saturday, Singh noted were from two operations where no one was arrested. Wearing masks and gloves, CANU ranks cautiously ripped opened the 30 packets of cocaine which were intercepted at the No. 66 Village koker. According to reports, CANU officials received a “tip off” about the shipment and staked out at the area.
During that operation which occurred between 00:30h and 01:00, a speed boat approached the koker in question and offloaded the containers. According to reports a man was in the area waiting to collect.
It was reported that as soon as the boat offloaded the illegal substance, the CANU ranks, a short distance away moved in, but were spotted by the perpetrators. However, the other man on the ground reportedly jumped overboard and hid in the nearby bushes, while the speed boat drove away. Three persons were arrested but were subsequently released.
Over recent times there seem to have been an increase in drug trafficking in the Berbice area with two last seizures in recent times, the most recent being on Thursday when some 40 kgs of cocaine were seized.
Prior to that some 30 kilos were seized at another location in Berbice.

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