CANU destroys 22kg cocaine, 600kg marijuana

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) this morning destroyed over 600 kilogrammes of narcotics that were previously seized.

Some 600kg of marijuana and 22 kg of cocaine were destroyed after being used as evidence in court cases.

For the cocaine, the cases were between 2021 to 2024 while the marijuana cases were from 2021 to 2025. Those cases have since been completed hence the destruction of the narcotics.

In 2024, CANU seized and destroyed some 6,700 kg narcotics totally some $5.6 billion.

Of this 6,000 kg, cocaine accounted for more than 90 per cent of the findings, followed by 1643.45 cannabis and 92 methamphetamine, respectively.

Cocaine was 5094.67 kg – most of which was from the massive drug bust at the Clandestine Airstrip in Region One (Barima-Waini) last September. Some 4.4 tonnes of cocaine with a street value of some €176 million (G40.7 billion) were discovered buried.

Moreover, a total of 71 cases were made in 2024 with regards to illegal substances from which there were 82 arrests. Additionally, there were 54 charges laid in relation to drug trafficking however, 11 were either withdrawn or dismissed.

This is a significant increase when compared to the 1363 kilograms of narcotics netted in 2023.