Almost 680,000 kilos of marijuana were destroyed in eradication exercises last year, an almost six-fold increase over 2017 when approximately 117,531 kilos of marijuana worth over $20 billion was destroyed.
This is according to data from the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) contained in the Annual Report of the Guyana Drug Information Network (GUYDIN). The report covers the period 2018. GUYDIN is an inter-agency body comprising law enforcement agencies working in drug supply reduction and professionals working on drug prevention and treatment who meet regularly to share data on drug supply and demand reduction interventions. It has been producing annual reports on the drug situation in Guyana since 2011.
Its report last year had indicated that in 2017, some 204,400 marijuana plants were eradicated, and a total of 117,531.67 kilos of marijuana with an estimated street value of over $20 billion were taken off the market.
The latest report revealed a sharp increase. It said that for last year, “891,625 plants totalling 578,178 kg along with 100,977 kg of dried cannabis were eradicated and taken off the market.” The total amount eradicated for 2018 would therefore be 679,155 kilos of marijuana. For this amount, only five persons were charged.
It must be noted that the report does not reflect the 679,155 figure, as it says that a total of 579,412.13 kilos of narcotics were taken off the market in 2018. This would be equal to the amount of marijuana plants destroyed and amount of narcotics seized without accounting for the dried cannabis.
Meanwhile, the amount of drugs seized has dropped substantially. The figures indicate that the amount of drugs seized has fallen from 55,139 kilos of narcotics which includes substances such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy in 2017 to 1,234.13 kilos of narcotics seized in 2018. Of the amounts seized for 2018, cannabis accounted for 1,050.33 kilos, cocaine 182.68 kilos, 0.72 kilos of ecstasy, 0.30 kilos of heroin and 0.10 kilos of methamphetamine.
In a statement, NANA said that for 2018, law enforcement agencies conducted over 300 seizures of illicit drugs and conducted over 20 eradication operations. Over 500 persons were charged with a drug related offence for the period.
In providing a breakdown, the report said that of the 334 drug seizures, 275 were by the Guyana Police Force’s Narcotics branch and 59 by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit.
In terms of eradication, the report said that in 2018, a total of 209 acres was eradicated spanning 39.5 fields over 22 operations. The majority of the eradication exercises were in the Region 10 area along the Berbice River. This was followed by Region Six. The largest cannabis eradication exercise occurred in Ebini Village (71.2%) followed by Canje and De Velde with 22.5% and 2.8% respectively, the report said.
In analysing the quantity of cannabis seized in the various prisons for 2018, the report said the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) conducted a total of 46 raids which unearthed and saw the removal of 12.81 kilos of cannabis.
Meantime, for last year, 539 persons were charged with drug possession, trafficking and cultivation. Convictions data from the GPS for 2018 indicated that 38 persons were convicted for the possession of narcotics for the year and 110 persons were convicted for drug trafficking. Additionally, three persons were convicted for cultivation of marijuana and three persons were convicted for smoking of narcotics.
According to the report, “…the law enforcement agencies must exert more effort in identifying the persons responsible for the cultivation of cannabis, so they can be prosecuted for this crime as it is the prosecution rate is insignificant when compared to the figures for the number of eradications carried out in 2018.”
Varies
The origin of the seized drugs in Guyana, according to the report, varies.
It noted that whilst marijuana is cultivated locally, other drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamine and heroin are trafficked in from other countries.
According to the report, Guyana is known as a transshipment point for cocaine.
As such, it added that while some cocaine remains in Guyana for local consumption, the majority is transiting for more lucrative markets in North America and Europe.
Generally, the report said, the cocaine entering Guyana originated from Colombia, traffickers who funnel it through Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela and into Guyana via bordering locations in the interior.
These drugs, the report said, are transported by air, land and water and are concealed in various ways in an effort to be undetected by law enforcement authorities.
Meantime, the report said that for last year, 8,475 pieces of drug evidence were submitted to the Guyana Forensics Science Laboratory for analysis for presence and identification of the types of narcotics. These pieces of evidence, the report said, were a part of 480 drug case investigations.
Of this, 478 cases were processed. Overall, about 387 returned positive results for cannabis, 82 for cocaine and 17 for ecstasy.
Additionally, 2,535 drivers were also charged for driving under the influence of alcohol and there were 14 fatal accidents as a result of drunk driving.
Meanwhile, the report also said that for the year under review, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education and other agencies were involved in a number of drug awareness programme as a prevention measure.
These programmes, according to the report, reached over 3,000 persons and were geared towards providing information about drugs and its adverse effects if used, misused or abused.
The report said that these agencies also focused on building the capacity of professionals working in the fields of prevention and treatment to address the issue of drug use on schools, communities and other at-risk population.
Over 100 persons, the report said received specialised treatment for problematic drug use via the Phoenix Recovery project and the Salvation Army’s men social service.
The Phoenix Recovery project is an NGO specialising in inpatient drug rehabilitation services for both male and female clients.
An analysis of treatment data for 2018 from the Phoenix Recovery project and the Salvation Army’s men social service also found that a total of 106 persons sought treatment, the report highlighted.
The report said 41% of the treatment population abused cocaine and its derivatives while marijuana single handily accounts for 37% of the most abused illicit substance.
The majority of the persons in treatment are males while just under 10% are females, it added.
Data also shows that 75% of persons in treatment for the period use more than more drug.
The report further revealed that 36 of the 106 persons in treatment were also diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and 56 persons had at least one encounter with the criminal justice system.
