By Delicia Janneire | January 2025
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, is urging international partners to provide more physical support in the battle against the drug trade by land, air, and sea.
Speaking during his ministry’s year-in-review report, Minister Benn emphasized the importance of collaboration with international and regional partners to make a significant impact on the illegal narcotics trade.
Benn specifically mentioned the successful drug bust in September 2024, which resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of narcotics and the prosecution of several individuals involved in trafficking.
He highlighted that Guyana’s efforts in combating the drug trade could be more effective with increased physical support from international allies.
Minister Benn said, “You may recall that we did seize and destroy a number of planes discovered between the police and CANU, and this is a question we pose to our international partners too. How can they help us on issues of demand reduction? The demand is not in Guyana for cocaine or marijuana, it is elsewhere.”
He further expressed the country’s need for more tangible assistance, explaining that while there is significant support in terms of training and conferences, “we would like to see more physical support.”
In 2024, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) seized over 6000 kilograms of narcotics, including 5094.67 kilograms of cocaine, 1643.345 kilograms of cannabis, and 92 grams of methamphetamine.
The combined street value of these drugs is estimated at approximately $5.6 billion.
Minister Benn’s call for more international support underscores the importance of a unified global effort to reduce the drug trade and its associated harm.