Ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Monday destroyed approximately US$600,000 worth of cocaine and US$150,000 (street value) of cannabis sativa that were seized over a two-year period.
The destruction which was witnessed by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee and CANU boss James Singh took place at the location where the Ministry of Hous-ing once stood at Homestretch Avenue.
Rohee, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, said the activity was part of an ongoing exercise by CANU to destroy illicit drugs that were seized under various circumstances and for which some cases have been dismissed while others have played out in court, resulting in persons serving sentences in prison.
The minister said CANU has been trying its utmost, notwithstanding the constraints, to fulfil its mandate. The agency has established its presence at the major ports of entry in Guyana, the most recent being Lethem and efforts are being made to extend such services to Moleson Creek, Berbice, the release added.
“All the laws are in place to address seizures and to place persons before the court and we are consistently following the National Drug Strategy Master Plan in which CANU is also involved,” Rohee was quoted as saying.
The GINA release explained that in 2007, a Task Force on Narcotics and Illicit Weapons was established to facilitate the implementation of the Plan. This initiative was arranged under four broad areas: control and reduction of supply; prevention; treatment and rehabilitation along with institutional and managerial framework. The plan consists of 34 programmes, 17 of which have already been implemented.
Rohee, GINA said, denied that the master plan is a failure and said “the fact that 17 of those programmes have already been executed is a good example to show our efforts in implementing this strategy.”
He added that the government is committed to eradicating narcotics in Guyana.
Additionally, as part of the effort to fast-track the implementation of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan, a steering committee of the National Anti-Narcotics Com-mission (NANCOM) was established, the release added.
The committee is chaired by President Bharrat Jagdeo and comprises critical stakeholders. This is the focal point in the counter-narcotics strategy which will lead to the overall improvement in the co-ordination by various agencies.
Rohee, according to GINA also dismissed criticisms made by the US State Department Report that there is not enough collaboration between law enforcement agencies in the fight against illicit drugs.
One of the biggest challenges being faced by CANU is that of its human resources capacity, the release said adding that it is one of the agencies that is subjected to polygraphing and those who are found unsuitable are dismissed from the organisation.
CANU is seen as a potential National Drug Enforce-ment Agency, commanding the respect of other law enforcement agencies in Guyana, Caricom, the hemisphere and the international community, the release said.
