Two arrested as CANU seizes ganja, firearm

Suraj Singh, 30, of No. 72 Village, East Berbice Corentyne and 55-year-old Mourice Vansluytman of No. 70 Village were arrested by ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) after they were found with several parcels of marijuana and a shotgun with 16 live cartridges.

CANU in a statement said the arrests were made on Tuesday at Manarabisi Canal, East Berbice Corentyne. The suspects, along with a minor, were intercepted in a speed boat.

“A subsequent search of the said boat was conducted in the presence of the occupants, which led to the discovery of several parcels of suspected narcotics and one shotgun with sixteen live cartridges,” CANU said.

This operation is part of CANU’s efforts to reduce the flow of narcotics being trafficked out of the Berbice river district to Suriname.

The officers carried out surveillance activities in several main drainage canals in the Corentyne district over period of two days.

The narcotics tested positive for marijuana and had a total weight of 126 kg (277.7 lbs).

Investigations are ongoing.