CANU burns Gy$400M in cocaine and marijuana

TIMES INT'L

The Custom Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Saturday burnt over Gy$400 million worth in cocaine and compressed marijuana at the organisation’s headquarters on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown. The cocaine which totalled 30kg (66lbs) was seized during a CANU operation at No 66 Village, Corentyne, Berbice on October 23, while the marijuana which weighed 105kg (31.4lbs) was seized during an operation at the John Fernandes Wharf, Georgetown on February 21.

During the exercise on Saturday, CANU officials tested the substances in the presence of media operatives.

In the case of the cocaine, a solution was used that was initially red but turned blue afterwards, which according to officials, is the colour to prove that the substance is indeed cocaine.

With respect to the marijuana, another test tube was used and the solution turned purple, indicating that it was cannabis. The cannabis was however mixed with formalin which was described as a strange occurrence.

According to CANU head, James Singh, other confiscations of cocaine and marijuana are engaging the attention of the courts, and as such, these illegal substances cannot be destroyed until the matters are completed. Those that were destroyed on Saturday, Singh noted, were from two operations where no one was arrested. Wearing masks and gloves, CANU ranks cautiously ripped opened the 30 packets of cocaine that were intercepted at the No 66 Village koker.

According to reports, CANU officials received a “tip off” about the shipment and staked out the area. During the operation which occurred between 00: 30 and 01:00h, a boat approached the koker in question and offloaded the containers which were collected by a male apparently waiting on the drug.

It was reported that as soon as the boat offloaded the illegal substance, the CANU ranks move in but were spotted by the perpetrators and they sped away.

Meanwhile, the man on the ground reportedly jumped overboard and hid in the nearby bushes. There were also reports that the traffickers opened fire on the CANU officers with the intention of scaring them away, but the operation was successful, according to the CANU head.

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