Georgetown: Agro-processors across the country have expressed frustration over the use of raw and processed fruits and vegetables to smuggle illegal substances out of the country, saying it has been having a negative impact on their small-scale businesses.
On February 9, security agencies at the CJIA prevented a U.S. and Guyanese citizen from smuggling approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine concealed in tamarind achar onto a Caribbean Airlines flight bound for New York City, U.S.A. Recently, a shipper and a customs broker were arrested by a CANU rank after they allegedly attempted to smuggle six kilogrammes of cocaine in fake awaras through the CJIA.
The cocaine was wrapped in plastic in the shape of awaras and sprayed with a similar colour as the fruit. Stems were then glued on to the fake awaras to make them look real.
One of the major issues raised by the processors was the frequency of cocaine busts at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in which processed and semi-processed foods such as achar and pepper sauce are used.
Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said that the Ministry is currently in the process of implementing a number of measures and fostering beneficial partnerships with relevant parties.
The Ministry, he said, is currently holding talks with the Home Affairs Ministry and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and hopes that a satisfactory agreement can be crafted to address the agro-processors’ complaints.
“We are aware of the problem because it would have arisen before and we are working on finding a suitable solution for that. As of right now, we are in talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Police Force and CANU to see how best they can facilitate our agro-processors and their products. At the end of the day, every country has its fair share of drug busts and drug trafficking and Guyana is no exception. Secondly, the CANU ranks are only doing their job and what they have been placed there to do. You cannot ask them to not do their jobs, but there is definitely room for improvement on both parties’ sides,” he explained.
The Minister added: “We are seeking to reduce the inconvenience and avoidable losses faced by the agro-processors and in doing so, we are hoping to hold talks and initiate workshops and find ways in which we can assist CANU ranks in examining the goods without damaging them in any way. However, while we are doing so, it is imperative that the agro-processors cooperate with the officers because some of them do not and in some cases that is how the losses would result.”
In recent times, numerous attempts to traffic cocaine in processed foods have been intercepted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
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