Cops seize ganja despite killer bees

Police officers were forced to make a hasty retreat in the Tabaquite forest yesterday when they were attacked by killer bees during a marijuana eradication exercise. The presence of the bees did not deter the officers from destroying nine marijuana fields and seizing more than 25 pounds of dried marijuana with a street value of over TT$1 million.

The exercise, led by Insp Bert Raphael and Ag Sgt Agith Persad, started at 6 am and ended at 3 pm. Reports revealed that after walking three miles into the forest, officers were greeted by the presence of the bees while entering the first field. They were forced to move to safer ground but still went on to destroy nine other fields including one camp with 750,000 fully grown marijuana trees and 50,000 seedlings. The National Security helicopter was also used in the exercise. Other officers involved in the exercise included PCs Toolaram, Pierre, Edward Ali, Phillip and Roseann.