Police destroy $159 million worth of cannabis

The Guyana Police Force on Thursday destroyed $159 million worth in cannabis that were being grown at four farms along the Berbice River.

Police Headquarters on Friday said the ranks from Regional Division #10 conducted an eradication exercise at Ebini backdam, Berbice River. During the process, the four cannabis farms, each about 5.5 acres, were discovered. The farms were destroyed with the illicit plant which carried an estimated street value of $159,932,960.

The police said the first farm was approximately two acres in size and had 160 farm beds with about 40 plants ranging from one to four feet in height. This farm had about 7,040 kilogammes of the plants, carrying a street value of 1,084,160.

The second farm had 5,000 plants, ranging from one to four feet in height and the average weight of the plants is 5,000 kilogrammes, with a street value of $847,000. This farm had make shift camps made of wooden posts and black and white plastic, which had a quantity of kitchen utensils and groceries.

There was a black and white plastic on the ground which contained 45.4 kilogrammes of dried cannabis. There was also a plastic in a barn which had 27.2 kilogrammes of dried cannabis. These items have a street value of $65,317,500.

The third farm was smaller and had 1,000 plants ranging from one to five feet with an average weight of 2,200 Kilogrammes, with a street value of $338,800. It also had a makeshift camp with groceries and kitchen utensils and a quantity of fertilizer bags. The police also found a large garbage bag containing 76.2 kilogrammes of dried cannabis. There was also another set of dried cannabis in a barn nearby. That set of cannabis weighed 15.4 kilogrammes.

The cannabis amounted to a total of 91.6 kilogrammes with a street value of $82,463,400.

Finally, the fourth farm and smallest of the farms had 500 plants, ranging from one to three feet, with an average weight of 550 kilogrammes and a street value of $84,700. Like the other farms, it had a makeshift camp with kitchen utensils and groceries, as well as two fertilizer bags which contained 10.9 kilogrammes of dried cannabis with a street value of $9,797,400.

The police photographed the farms before they were ignited and destroyed. The tallest plants were escorted to Mackenzie Police Station where they were sealed, marked and lodged. No one was arrested.