Suspected cannabis discovered in slippers, haversacks near Mazaruni Prison

A total of 2,432.8 grams of a substance suspected to be cannabis was discovered near the Mazaruni Prison compound on Sunday morning, prompting an ongoing investigation.

The suspected narcotics were found after the Officer-in-Charge of the Mazaruni Prison received a phone call from an anonymous source around 10:30 hrs. The caller claimed that illicit drugs had been dropped off near the Solar Farm located within the prison compound, reportedly as part of an attempt to smuggle them into the facility.

Following the tip-off, the Officer-in-Charge instructed a Prison Officer to carry out a search of the area. Between 10:35 hrs and 11:15 hrs, the officer searched approximately 100 feet west of the Solar Farm and uncovered two bulky, multi-coloured ‘Bob Marley’ haversacks hidden among vegetation ranging from one to five feet high.

Upon opening the bags, he found multiple bulky parcels containing leaves, seeds, and stems resembling cannabis. The discovery was immediately reported to his superior and then relayed to the Bartica Police Station.

Police ranks later arrived at the location and carried out a further search of the haversacks. A total of seventeen bulky parcels were recovered, all containing substances suspected to be cannabis. In addition, two pairs of slippers with unusually thick soles were also retrieved from the bags. Upon further inspection, the soles were found to conceal four transparent parcels filled with a similar suspected substance.

The contents were weighed in the presence of the Prison Officer and found to total 2,432.8 grams. The suspected narcotics were subsequently placed into a transparent evidence bag, sealed, labelled, and lodged at the Bartica Police Station.

Statements have been collected, and investigations into the attempted smuggling operation are continuing.