Drug enforcement officers attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday afternoon intercepted some 10 kilogrammes (22lbs) of cocaine, with an estimated street of $50M, on board a ship that was destined for Jamaica.
When Stabroek News contacted Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, James Singh, last evening he was only able to confirm the bust but said he was not in a position to offer any other information.
Reports are that around 5 pm yesterday afternoon, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers were carrying out a routine search of the MV Vega Sachsen, when the drugs was found stashed in a black plastic bag hidden between two containers.
A source at the wharf told this newspaper that the drugs may have been placed on the vessel by stevedores who were working in the area and several persons were being questioned about the find. An extensive search was later carried out on the vessel and the matter was handed over to CANU.
The police have since launched an investigation into the incident.
Last Wednesday, CANU officers intercepted some 27 kilos and a small quantity of cannabis on board a fishing vessel, the MV Bismarck 2, as it was preparing to leave for Trinidad and Tobago. Several persons have since been placed before the courts in relation to the matter while CANU was expected to confiscate the vessel, since its owners had failed to claim it.
Two weeks ago, the GRA along with the police and CANU discovered some 50 kilos of compressed marijuana stashed inside a quantity of pumpkins bound for Barbados.
A local cycling coordinator, suspected to have attempted to export some $20M worth of the drug, is being sought by the police and he is believed to have fled to neighbouring Suriname, according to a police source.
The first-time exporter, who provided an East Street, South Cummingsburg address on shipping documents to GRA, was under surveillance by the authorities for sometime.
