Cocaine found in soap powder – shipper, others held

Narcotics ranks this morning discovered 350 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in soap power in a container at the John Fernandes container compound, Mandela Avenue and several persons are in custody assisting with investigations, CANU head James Singh had confirmed.

Singh told Stabroek News that the ranks unearthed the drugs while searching containers at the premises just before lunch.

He said the container, which was due to leave Guyana some time next week, was heading to an African destination.

“We have some persons in custody,” he said.

Stabroek News has been reliably informed that the shipper of the container is among those who were hauled in by members of a special squad that has been formed to tackle the growing drug trade.

The source said that drug traffickers are finding new and ingenious ways of getting drugs out of Guyana. This newspaper was told that drug traffickers seem to be uncomfortable with using the airport and in most cases are not getting the amount of cocaine that they want to, out of the country. As such, the source said, they are trying other exit ports.

Just recently US$7.1 million worth of cocaine was discovered in coconut milk tins in Malaysia. Two persons have been charged locally in relation to that bust.

Drug traffickers have also used lumber, rum, pepper sauce, cabbage among other items.