Barbados finds drugs aboard Panama-registered ship that sailed from Guyana

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

A Panama-registered ship that last left Guyana was detained by Barbadian law enforcement authorities after a quantity of cocaine and marijuana was found aboard, a usually relaible source here said Sunday.

The Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) source said the MV Rudisa Global departed Guyana early last week for the sister Caricom member state of Barbados where it was detained and a search conducted.

At least nine kilogrammes of cocaine and marijuana were found aboard the ship.

The Barbados Police Force in a statement said the drugs were discovered following an operation that was carried out by members of the drug squad and Customs and Excise  Department. The search was supported by the Police Canine Unit and the Barbados Coast Guard.

At the time of the operation, Rudisa Global was berthed at the Bridgetown Port.

The CANU official said the bust took place after that Guyanese anti-drug agency shared information with Barbadian law enforcement agents.

Guyana and Barbados are among several members of the United States-funded Caribbean Basin Security Initiiative established to fight the drug trade, money laundering and related organised crime such as arms trafficking.