Ecstasy, foreign marijuana flooding Guyana as traffickers step up tactics – CANU

The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) has warned that Guyana is increasingly being targeted by international drug cartels, with foreign strains of marijuana and shipments of ecstasy now entering the country as traffickers adopt more sophisticated concealment methods.

CANU Head, James Singh, revealed that ecstasy consignments are arriving from Europe before being routed to other parts of South America. Marijuana, he added, is also being trafficked from North America, Colombia, Venezuela, and even Thailand, passing through Guyana on its way to regional markets.

Speaking on this week’s episode of ‘Safeguarding Our Nation’, Singh said traffickers are moving away from traditional cocaine-smuggling methods, such as hiding drugs in wood or seafood exports. Instead, they are contaminating commercial shipments after the goods have been scanned and cleared locally, making detection far more difficult.

He further disclosed that legitimate cargo vessels are being reloaded with narcotics off Guyana’s coast once they exit territorial waters.

“What we are seeing is foreign members of drug trafficking organisations embedding themselves here. This indicates an effort to establish a presence in Guyana,” Singh cautioned.

To counter these threats, Singh said CANU is strengthening ties with international counterparts, pushing for more foreign liaison officers to be based locally, and deploying advanced scanners and detection technology.

“We are adapting as best we can. Through international partnerships, we are working to ensure Guyana does not become a haven—a narco state that traffickers view as a safe place to operate,” Singh stressed.