Guyanese police destroy over $409 million in cannabis

The Guyana Police Force’s Narcotics Branch and Regional Division Six conducted two major eradication operations on Sunday in the Upper Berbice River, destroying more than $409 million worth of cannabis and seizing two illegal shotguns with ammunition.

The first raid took place at Zion, Upper Berbice River, where officers discovered a two-acre plot being prepared for cultivation. Nearby, a 30×20 ft. makeshift camp with living and kitchen areas was uncovered. Inside the camp, police found a drying section containing approximately 350 lbs of dried cannabis, valued at over $142.8 million. Both the camp and the cannabis were destroyed by fire.

Later that morning, between 5:00 a.m. and 10:20 a.m., officers launched a second operation at Kalkuni, Upper Berbice River. There, another two-acre cannabis farm was discovered, with roughly 3,000 plants ranging from two to seven feet in height. A camp of similar size, complete with a drying section, was also uncovered. Officers seized 650 lbs of dried cannabis, along with two unlicensed twelve-gauge shotguns and 19 matching cartridges.

The weapons, which bore no visible serial numbers, have been submitted to the Ballistics Section for analysis. Cannabis plants, dried marijuana, and the camps at both sites were destroyed at the scene.

Police estimate the value of the seized narcotics from the Kalkuni raid alone to be more than $266 million, bringing the total value of cannabis destroyed in both operations to $409,249,200.

The Guyana Police Force reported that both exercises were carried out without incident, marking a significant blow to the illegal drug trade in the Berbice River region.