Police destroy over $700 mln worth of cannabis in Upper Berbice River operations

Police have destroyed cannabis plants valued at more than $700 million during three eradication exercises on Tuesday in the Upper Berbice River region.

The Guyana Police Force said ranks of its Narcotics Branch discovered a five-acre plot along Wiruni Creek containing around 2,000 cannabis plants, each measuring between two and five feet in height. Officers also found drying areas holding some 580 pounds of dried cannabis, with an estimated value of $237 million, along with a makeshift camp containing living and kitchen quarters.

Earlier in the day, police uncovered an eight-acre plot being prepared for cultivation in the Wiruni Savannahs. A nearby camp contained about 1,400 lbs of dried cannabis valued at $571 million. Officers also seized a 12-gauge shotgun with nine matching cartridges, which has been sent to the police ballistics section.

Later in the evening, ranks found a three-acre plot at Wiruni Creek with about 10,000 plants, also ranging from two to five feet tall. Police said the plants, valued at $3.3 million, were destroyed by fire on site.

Authorities described the operations as part of continuing efforts to tackle illegal drug cultivation and trafficking in the region.