Protesters this afternoon began leaving the road at Buxton on the East Coast Demerara after unrest had erupted earlier in the day over a raid conducted by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU).
Around 5 pm protesters stopped blocking the road after they were urged by a village leader to leave. They had been on the road for several hours.
Residents have protested over the manner of the raid. A car ended up in a trench as a result of the CANU operation.
Residents have been demanding the release of the man who was held by CANU. No statement has yet been issued by CANU.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the following statement:
An intelligence led operation this morning resulted in the interception of a motor car bearing registration number PRR 6703 with several bundles of cannabis amounting to 51.2 pounds in the vicinity of the village of Buxton.
A suspect has been taken into custody and the drugs found in the car seized by law enforcement officers.
Some warning shots were fired in the course of the operation to stop the fleeing vehicle which ended up in a nearby trench.
A protest has erupted where a large number of persons are engaged resulting in the blocking of the roadway with a demand that the fugitive be released.
Police officers and fire service units are on the scene to effect the reopening of the roadways.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is calling on persons engaged in the blocking of the roadways and other illegal activities to desist from this practice.
