With just over a month left in 2014, this year’s total number of seizures of herbal cannabis has been the highest recorded by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the past five years.
In contrast, cocaine seizures have so far been lower than last year’s.
According to the GPF statistics provided last Monday, 9481.7 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized in this year from January 1 to October 31, while 83 acres of cannabis have been eradicated in the same period, up from last year’s 76.25 acres. For the entire 2013, the GPF seized 1717.7 kg of herbal cannabis.
When questioned on just why there had been such a dramatic hike in marijuana seizures this year, Crime Chief Leslie James stated that the statistics are indicative of increased seizure exercises.
The second highest seizure within the last 5 years was in 2010, at 7613.5 kg.
As regards cocaine, the GPF’s seizures for 2013 totalled 525.4 kg and for January to October, 2014, the force recorded seizures amounting to 155.5 kg of cocaine.
The number of persons charged for both of the drugs has so far been lower than last year’s figures. The GPF’s records show that in 2013, 697 persons were charged with cannabis-related offences. For this year, there have been 408 persons similarly charged. The number of persons charged with cocaine-related offences has also been lower this year, with a recorded 132, compared with 161 in 2013.
“I think those are reasonable indications that the police are doing their work and persons are prone less to be engaged in that activity [drug trafficking],” James said, when asked about the figures.
Though the police’s report indicated the number of persons charged, the police were unable to supply a conviction rate.
In one recent notable case, Leonard Bacchus, after a three-year trial, earned himself a suspended five-year prison sentence for trafficking nearly 150 pounds of cocaine. His sentence raised numerous eyebrows and his matter is set to be appealed by the state.
In contrast, in October, Shellon Hopkinson, a young pregnant mother of one, was sentenced to four years in prison for trafficking 257 grammes of cannabis. She was also ordered to pay a fine of $385,000.
Recently, cannabis charges have recently been laid against both inmates and officials from the Camp Street Prison. More than half a dozen persons appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts this year charged with possessing marijuana on the premises of the prison. One such person is former prison warder Akeem Vyphuis, who was sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment after he was caught trying to smuggle 279 grammes of cannabis into the Camp Street Prison.
At the time of his arrest, Vyphuis had been a serving member of the Guyana Prison Service for three years.
Also notable in the media this year was the discovery of a 63-foot self-propelled semi-submersible vessel in the Waini River, North West District, Region One. It is believed that the sub was to be used to transport cocaine to Europe or Africa and the discovery pointed to the extent of the cocaine transshipping business in Guyana.
The suitcase full of pastries in which a quantity of cocaine was found in April.
Crime Chief James noted that cocaine smugglers were becoming more innovative. This year, persons had been busted with large quantities of cocaine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in a number of items, including fish, pastries, awaras and crème liqueur.
