
A total of 6000 kilograms of narcotics were seized in 2024 by the authorities, with cocaine accounting for the majority, the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn reported today.
At a press conference, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn explained that of the 6000 kilograms of narcotics seized, cocaine accounted for 5094.67 kilograms while 1,643.45 kilograms of cannabis was seized.
A large percentage of that cocaine was unearthed last September by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Special Forces of the Guyana Defence Force with the support of the US Drug Enforcement Agency, near an abandoned airstrip in Region One.
Approximately, 4.4 tons cocaine, which carries a street value of almost US$200 million, was found.
Minister Benn said two persons were arrested locally, as investigation into the major drug bust continues.
He confirmed that there were also arrests abroad.
“There were a number of arrests overseas related to that one. I wouldn’t say the country or the area right now but there were a number of arrests made in relation to that matter,” the Home Affairs Minister said.

In other drug related matters, a number of persons have been prosecuted he said, including foreign nationals.
“The results so far, we have seen arriving in the prisons, a number of persons, who are involved in relation to the question of cocaine, and marijuana trafficking. I think a number of Brazilian pilots are in the facility,” he pointed out.
A number of planes linked to the narco-trade, which were found in most cases at abandoned and other illegal airstrips, have also been destroyed.
He said as CANU and the Guyana Police Force continue this uphill battle, Guyana requires the support of its international partners to tackle the issue of demand deduction.

“And we would like to get more support. While there is a lot of support in terms of training and information, visits and conferences, we would like to see more physical support. We would like to see support in relation to radar coverage. We would like to see more support to the police and CANU in relation to vehicles and planes and the other specialized testing equipment in relation to the question of drugs,” Minister Benn said.
He explained that the narco-trade often includes guns and ammunitions, and the authorities must be better equipped to take on the traffickers.
“Our activism cannot be more helped unless we get the capability, in partnership with neighbouring countries to deny overfly, deny the passage of these semi-submersible vessels in the maritime sphere, and indeed I think we do have two submersibles which were seized in the North-West by the police,” he added.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and other international partners have been offering intelligence information, but Minister Benn said much more is required to combat the narco-trade.
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