Major cocaine haul: Authorities consider foreign links in Region One operation

Following the massive drug bust in Region One (Barima/Waini), authorities believe that the operation was being conducted here by foreigners and that the enormous quantity of the drugs signals that it was awaiting further transshipment and was not meant to be distributed locally.

Four hand dug pits, about five to six feet deep, neatly camouflaged with wood, tarpaulin and bush, were found by the Special Forces (Guyana Defense Force Special Operations Section) containing cocaine weighing four and a half tonnes, estimated to be worth 176 million Euros (US$195 million)

The find, after days of intense searching by the officers, was made at an abandoned airstrip in the Region One location. So far, one person is being held for questioning.

“This operation was driven by intelligence regarding illegal flights into Guyana and was
supported by information shared with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency
(DEA) and other international partners,” the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) stated.

The bust followed months of high-level surveillance and intelligence gathering. It is reportedly the largest seizure of cocaine on land in Guyana.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has said that should more forest people and others cooperate with drug fighting authorities, crime fighting could be enhanced. “The people who live in the forest can join up in this fight, because this is a fight for everyone,” he told reporters on the scene.

This is one of the many operations that was conducted over the past five months identifying illegal airstrips within the country and monitoring them. In this case, CANU believes it was lucky to strike at the right time; to seize the drugs before they were moved to another location.

Further, the team believes it was not just successful in seizing the drugs, but in detecting a new concealment method and gives an idea as to how big the network is.

The airstrip in question is illegal and said to be built to accommodate small aircrafts bringing several kilos of cocaine from outside of Guyana.

After samples are taken, the cocaine will be burnt.

CANU stated: “This seizure highlights the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) and the Government’s unwavering commitment to combating the narcotics trade in Guyana and collaborating with international partners. The Government of Guyana is making significant strides to equip the Joint Services with the necessary tools to combat drug trafficking and other illicit activities within the country. Recent investments in the GDF Coast Guard, Air Corps, and the Guyana Police to enhance monitoring of border regions underscore this dedication.”

It added: “This seizure also demonstrates the confidence that the Guyanese Government,
international agencies, and Joint Services have in CANU’s ability to fulfill its mandate.
CANU has been leading Guyana’s anti-narcotics efforts, resulting in previous seizures
of aircraft, and semi-submersibles, and the arrests of high-profile drug traffickers.”