Cops seize $20 million in ganja

A MAJOR drug smuggling ring with links to Venezuela was smashed following the arrest of two men, one of whom is an illegal Venezuelan immigrant, and seizure of over $20 million in high-grade, compressed marijuana from a San Fernando house during the early morning hours yesterday. In addition to the drugs, police also found a bulletproof vest, two ski masks, a pair of leather gloves, two scales (used to weigh the drugs) and an American arms and ammunition magazine in the house. Both suspects were expected to be charged last night with several offences including trafficking in marijuana and are scheduled to appear before a San Fernando magistrate today. Police sources told Newsday they believe a large portion of the seized marijuana was destined for America and Europe while the rest would have been sold in this country to supplement local consumption, which has suffered because of a  sustained police assault on the local marijuana cultivation and trade.

According to police reports, a team of San Fernando CID officers — on orders from Head of Southern Division, Snr Supt Desmond Lambert — were carrying out a special night-time patrol exercise when around 12.10 am, they spotted two occupants in a white Toyota Corolla car slowly cruising west along Gulf View Link Road. On seeing the approaching police vehicle, the driver of the car attempted to speed off, but the car was intercepted by the officers, led by Cpl Matthew Noel and including PCs Neptune, Ramdass, Cowie and Sookoo. On searching the vehicle, the officers found a small quantity of marijuana. Both the driver, a 29-year-old man from Park Street, San Fernando and the passenger, a 44-year-old man from Campana Village, Venezuela, were questioned by the officers who subsequently accompanied them to the 29-year-old suspect’s house.

During a search of the said house, the officers found over 200 cellophane-wrapped, waterproof packets of compressed marijuana with a combined weight of 287 kilos (574 lbs) along with other illegal items. The officers radioed for back-up and heavily armed police officers arrived minutes later at the house to oversee the loading of the large quantity of marijuana into police vehicles, which transported the drugs to South CID Headquarters at San Fernando Police Station. Snr Supt Lambert yesterday praised his officers for their vigilance, which resulted in the arrest of the two men and seizure of the large consignment of marijuana. Lambert told Newsday that police would contact the Immigration Department for assistance since the Venezuelan suspect is an illegal immigrant. Investigations are continuing.