Even before the close of the year, the Guyana Police Force Drug Enforcement Unit said it has already recorded some of its biggest busts on record for 2022.
The force, according to this year’s statistics, seized more than 1000 pounds of drugs from various stop and searches, ports of entry and even the landing of suspicious aircrafts in the interior.
The Guyana Police Force revealed that a total of 761.28 kilogrammes (1678 pounds) of cannabis was seized between January to October 2022.
When compared to previous years, this represents the largest quantity of cannabis seized within the last five years.
Crime Chief and Head of the Criminal Investigations Department, Wendell Blanhum during the launching of the Force’s Christmas Policing Plan at the Officer’s Mess Hall on Tuesday said that intelligence-led operations and the hard work of ranks all over Guyana were attributing factors for the success this year.
“Daily inspections were carried out on cargo, ports of exit and entry, airports and border locations where checkpoints were established,” Blanhum said.
Additionally, in excess of 293.4 kg (646 pounds) of cocaine were seized for the year 2022. This is considered the highest seizure of drugs when compared to the previous year which amounted to 536 kg (1, 181) pounds.
With regard to the Force’s eradication efforts Blanhum said, “Sixty-one and half acres of Cannabis was destroyed for the year 2022. The statistics show a downward trend from the year 2020 to 2022.”
Between January 1 and November 13, 2022, a total of 41 persons were charges for trafficking cocaine and cannabis.
