Two held as CANU cracks down on drug smuggling to Suriname

The drugs retrieved (CANU photo)

Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officers yesterday intercepted two adults and one minor who were seen inside a speed boat in the Manarabisi Canal, East Berbice Corentyne.

 

CANU said in a statement today that a subsequent search of the said boat was conducted in the presence of the occupants, which led to the discovery of several parcels of suspected narcotics and one shotgun with sixteen live cartridges.

 

This operation is part of CANU’s efforts to reduce the flow of narcotics being trafficked out of the Berbice river district to Suriname, the statement said. The officers carried out surveillance activities in several main drainage canals in the Corentyne district, which lasted for a period of two days.

 

Suraj Singh, 30 years of Lot 69 Section B, No.72 Village, East Berbice Corentyne and Mourice Vansluytman, 55 years of Lot 18 Section A, No.70 Village, East Berbice Corentyne were arrested and escorted to CANU headquarters along with the suspected narcotics and one shotgun with sixteen live cartridges. The narcotics tested positive for cannabis and had a total weight of 126 kg (277.7 lbs).