More than 8,000 pounds of cocaine seized in Guyana’s largest drug bust

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AUTHORITIES IN GUYANA HAVE MADE THEIR LARGEST EVER SEIZURE OF COCAINE – TAKING MORE THAN 8-THOUSAND POUNDS FROM THE JUNGLE NEAR THE BORDER WITH VENEZUELA.

IN WHAT OFFICIALS SAY IS THE BIGGEST DRUG BUST IN GUYANA’S HISTORY… THE SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY’S SECURITY MINISTER ESTIMATED THE DRUGS TO HAVE BEEN WORTH 200 MILLION DOLLARS.

POLICE SAY TRAFFICKERS HAD DUG HOLES IN THE GROUND AND STASHED THE COCAINE THERE BEFORE COVERING THE HOLES WITH WOODEN PLANKS. 

THE U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WAS PART OF THE OPERATION – WHICH LED TO ONE SUSPECT’S ARREST. 

POLICE SAY THEY’RE STILL LOOKING FOR TWO MORE SUSPECTS WHO RAN FROM THE SCENE. 

THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF COCAINE WAS SEIZED IN AN AREA WHERE GUYANESE POLICE HAVE FOUND IMPROVISED SUBMERSIBLE VESSELS HIDDEN IN THE JUNGLE IN RECENT YEARS.

OFFICIALS SAID IT’S UNCLEAR IF ANY OF THOSE VESSELS WERE ACTUALLY USED – BUT VOWED TO STEP UP MONITORING IN THAT REGION. 

THE SEIZED COCAINE WAS REPORTEDLY MEANT TO BE SHIPPED TO A EUROPEAN COUNTRY.

GUYANA’S SECURITY MINISTER SAID THE BUST IS PART OF GUYANA’S ONGOING EFFORTS TO COMBAT DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THE REGION.