$M in marijuana up in smoke

Millions of dollars’ worth of marijuana plants were destroyed in Biche by the Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit (OCIU), while a high-powered weapon and more narcotics were found in other unrelated incidents on Monday.

OCIU officers carried out an eradication exercise in Biche from 7 am to 4 pm on Monday. It was supervised by Insp Andy Tewarie and included Eastern Division Task Force officers with assistance by the National Operations Centre’s Viper 1 helicopter. The police team went into the forest in Biche, to a site they knew from previous investigations. They found a clearing with about 4,000 fully grown marijuana trees, 24 pounds of marijuana seeds, 20 pounds of cured marijuana and over 24,800 seedlings. The find was estimated at about $4.9 million. No one was arrested.

In another exercise, a 26-year-old Palmiste man was arrested after police found 24.1 kilogrammes of marijuana at his Palm Villas, Block One home on Monday afternoon. Special Branch South officers searched the house at about 1.45 pm and found 45 sealed packets hidden inside two crocus bags and a handbag. The haul has an estimated street value of $241,000.

The man, who was in the house at the time, was arrested and is expected to be charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

In Chaguanas, Central Division. police found an Uzi sub-machine gun. Sources told Newsday the exercise, supervised by Sen Supt Kenny Mc Intyre, included Chaguanas CID and Major Crimes Unit members, and took place from 6.30 to 11.45 am on Monday. Police received information which led them to Waterloo Link Road, where they found an abandoned shed. They searched it and found the gun. No one was arrested.