In the first half of this year, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit seized more than three pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine, describing the growing presence of the drug locally as a significant and concerning development in Guyana’s domestic landscape.
Crystal Methamphetamine is considered one of the more popular “party drugs” that is available on the party scene and at some social gatherings in the country. CANU is also seeing a growing presence of Ecstasy, which is another party drug.
More than 380 grammes of ecstasy was seized by CANU this year during various operations.
Last weekend, during the destruction of seized drugs, the Director of CANU, James Singh told reporters that the growing trend of the party drugs in Guyana is very worrying. He said CANU has been working along with other Government agencies to stay ahead of the game by warning of the dangers of drug use, especially in at-risk areas and among at-risk people.
“I would not just limit it to the teenagers, we also have a drug information network that is working very closely with the Ministries of Health, Education, and Social Services. We’ve printed several booklets, and we also have community outreaches in the various areas, not because there’s a problem in that area, but because we know they are at risk. I don’t want to limit limited to schools, because these party drugs are coming because you’re seeing them more prevalent in the clubs and in social activities where, I guess the belief is that if you give the persons more, they’ll spend more time, you’ll spend more money in the environment”, Singh said.
The CANU Director said there will be ongoing work in the schools to tackle any drug use problem.
“In schools, we have seen some drug use, and again, that may be due to peer pressure, social media, that negative impact. That is why we’re working closely with the Ministry of Education, as well as communities to sensitize them that it is not what you see on television, the hidden danger between the social, the medical aspect, as well as, you know, law enforcement”, he said.
CANU reported that it has seized more drugs in the first half of this year than it has ever seized within a six-month timeline. Cocaine and marijuana remain two of the main drugs being trafficked through Guyana.
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