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Mar 29, 2010 News
NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – The Ancient County now tops the list for the cultivation of cannabis sativa (marijuana) in Guyana. This is according to a senior official of the Guyana Police Force, based on the finding of the Government of Guyana Anti-Narcotic Efforts document for cannabis sativa eradication between January 1st and October 31st, 2009.
The document shows that in the entire country, squads destroyed a total of 176,013 kilograms of cannabis sativa which were planted on 157 acres of land. Of that figure, Berbice alone cultivated 162,068 kilograms on a total of 132.5 acres of land.
The breakdown is as follows – planters in the De Velde and Sand Hill areas up the Berbice River cultivated 147,000 kilograms of cannabis sativa on 120.5 acres of land.
In the Ikurura Creek location along the Canje River, persons planted 15,050 kilograms on 11.5 acres of land.
In the backlands of Number 28 Village on the West Coast of Berbice, 18 kilograms of the illicit drug were planted on 0.5 acres of land.
Other areas across Guyana on the list include Hauraruni Creek in Demerara with 10,000 kilograms on seven acres in the second position and in third place is Kuru-kuru with 1,250 kilograms of cannabis on 6.5 acres.
According to the document, 407 persons were slapped with ganja related charges across Guyana during the said January 1st to October 31st, 2009 period.
For the entire country, during the January to September 2008 period, the Guyana Police Force seized 30 kilograms of cocaine and charged 91 persons.
For the corresponding period in 2009, 66.6 kilograms were confiscated in the entire Guyana and 119 persons placed before courts across the country.
For cannabis sativa during the January to September 2008 period, 35,000 kilograms were seized in Guyana and 303 persons were charged countrywide.
Arresting suspects is not always straightforward. In February this year, ranks swooped down on a ganja farm on the Berbice River and arrested the owner and two employees.
This was trouble-free since the farm is located about two miles inland from the river and it was not easy for the suspects to detect the arrival of the police ranks.
But generally, many of these ganja farms are located within a two-minute walk from the river so the suspects can detect the police presence almost immediately.
Then there is also the case of information leakage both from within the Guyana Police Force and also on the outside.
The source explained that in some cases when people see the police boats heading up river, persons in the locations are given a tip off and have ample time to secure what they can and disappear.
The source recalled an incident a few years ago when the drug dealers set the police boat on fire. In that instance, the ranks moored the vessel at the waterfront and made their way inland leaving it completely unprotected.
According to the official, one pound of compressed high-grade marijuana carries a street value of US$1,000.
The Official posited that Berbice may be selected as the location for cultivation since the soil is clayey, rich and perfect for the prohibited item. There is also easy access to black water and the land is relatively flat. Since marijuana does not need much water to survive it springs quickly. The ordinary cannabis sativa plant grows up to nine feet. From one plant, a cultivator can gain one pound of compressed ganja. During the recent raids, it was discovered that many of the fields have different species, convincing law enforcement officers that great help is had from foreign countries. There is the hybrid cannabis sativa which produces a high-grade weed. This particular hybrid makes it more difficult for the plants to be spotted during an aerial survey since it is short and blends into the regular bushes around. The hybrid grows up to five feet.
Baracara is also known for the cultivation of ganja in Berbice as well as other parts of the Canje River. About two weeks ago, a one-acre plot of land, located about seven miles south of the Number 57 Village Public Road, was discovered with cannabis sativa. Some amount of the drug is also planted along the Corentyne River on the Guyana side but on a small scale, the official said. During the Christmas Season last year, a half-acre plot of ganja was discovered a short distance from Moleson Creek.
Some of the farms raided are said to be well taken care of and possess sophisticated equipment for irrigation purposes and fertilizing. These cannabis sativa cultivators are said to be clever and attempt new strategies ever so often to remain on top. One such is to plant seedlings between the older ganja crops so in the event of a police raid and the stock is destroyed, the seedlings would replace them in a short time.
When the Commander of Division ‘B’ of the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commissioner, Steve Merai was questioned about his Division topping the illegal drug cultivation list, he said he is not pleased but all the necessary strategies are in place. His Division does not have a man-power shortage, has a good enough amount of vessels and trained captains, adequate fuel, weapons and all paraphernalia needed to win the fight.
Yet still the Kaieteur News understands that police ranks don’t attempt to journey on certain sections of the Berbice, Canje and other waterways after dark. At present, it appears as though the dealers are one step ahead since the waters are said to be tricky and dangerous in some sections. Logs and the like items appear with little notice and could be perilous. To combat or deal with this, the police would position themselves at strategic locations on land where it is believed the vessels transporting the drugs would moor.
The Commander said the amount of the illicit drug available and the number of young people engaging in its use are great sources of concern. Not so long ago, six students at a Corentyne school were allegedly caught with cannabis sativa on the school’s premises. They were detained but later released. That matter is still engaging the attention of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
Commander Merai said Police in the Ancient County would not stand idly by and allow a state of anarchy to take over. The price for cannabis sativa is affordable and a joint can be had for as low as $100. The Commander noted that there was a massive increase in the destruction of marijuana this year when compared to that of 2009. For 2010, six raids were done up to Saturday in Berbice.
He said the decision was made to go after the sources, be it planters or traffickers and others in the support system, find the fields and equipment and put a dent in the market. He posited that this action would not only create a shortage of the illegal item but when the supply is limited the cost would increase resulting in fewer users.
During a six-week period during the Christmas Holidays, a lot of police-led intelligence work was done. According to the Commander, the anti-narcotic drive would continue until all the ganja fields are eradicated.
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