RALPH BANWARIE
Mayaro Police made the biggest haul in a marijuana eradication exercise conducted in the district yesterday, finding millions of TT-dollars’ worth of the drug in cured, seedling and tree form.
Police reported having found a total of 300 pounds equivalent to 136.078 kilograms of marijuana, which carries a street value of over TT$2.5 million; ten thousand fully grown marijuana trees and 5,000 seedlings, valued at approximately TT$17.6 million.
The discovery was made at two makeshift camps off Cedar Grove Road, Mayaro
Two persons were arrested in connection with the find—a 21 -year-old of St Ann’s Road, Mayaro; and the other, a 22-year-old of Grand Lagoon, Mayaro.
They are both charged with the possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking by PC Narine, and are to be taken before a Mayaro magistrate.
A warrant had been obtained for the arrest of a 35-year-old man of Pierreville, Mayaro.
Senior Superintendent Aguilal, Eastern Division said it was a marijuana field day, as it was the largest amount of cured marijuana and trees destroyed in any one day.
The anti-crime operation was conducted in the Mayaro district on Tuesday. Officers went to Gregorio Trace, Cedar Grove in Mayaro to an agricultural plot, located some 100 feet from the main road, when they saw a make shift camp and a man tending to his marijuana plants. The police attempted to arrest him; however, he ran through the bushes and made good his escape.
Police carried out search in the camp and found 52 pounds of marijuana and while making checks to see if they could find the runaway suspect, they came upon a marijuana plantation field with about 10,000 fully grown marijuana trees.
The police continued their search only to discover another makeshift camp, where they found another 250 pounds of marijuana and 5,000 seedlings.
Both camps, marijuana trees, and seedlings were placed destroyed by fire.
The exercise was coordinated by Snr .Supt Aguilal, supervised by ASP Jankie, and Sgt Ramlakhan Ag Sgt Bhim, and included Ag Cpls Neaves, Dwarika PC Narine , officers from CID Task Force and Chargeroom, all of Mayaro Police Station.