Police conducted an eradication exercise yesterday in Bartica and Fort Nassau, Upper Berbice River, where they discovered illegal firearms and destroyed thousands of cannabis plants valued at some $295 million.
According to the police, the exercise was conducted between the hours of 04.00 and 11.00 when ranks discovered a plot of land at Bartica, Upper Berbice River with about 35,000 cannabis plants under cultivation. Two makeshift camps were also found with a drying area that contained dried cannabis plants weighing about 200 pounds along with 40 pounds of cannabis seeds. A search of the farm also unearthed a loaded 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun – serial number #11KZR17388 – along with a quantity of ammunition.
The two camps and all the cannabis plants were subsequently destroyed by fire.
The ranks then proceeded further up the Berbice River to Fort Nassau, where they observed a man running from a house into some nearby bushes. The ranks gave chase, but he managed to escape.
A search was then conducted of the house where the following items were found: One 12-gauge shotgun – serial number #J07073AA2; components for two firearms – 2 stocks, 2 trigger guards, 1 barrel, 1 spring, and 1 firing pin; six bulky parcels wrapped with transparent plastic; and one brown bag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis; 400 dry cannabis plants (found in the ceiling); and 125 12-gauge cartridges.
The aforementioned items were all taken to Central Police Station where they were photographed, marked, sealed, and lodged. The suspected cannabis was weighed and amounted to 54 pounds. Its street value was estimated to be $295,171,562.
Investigations are ongoing.
