Guatemala City, by Kevin Castillo -AGN- The Ministry of the Interior -Mingob-, through agents of the Sub-Directorate General of Anti-Narcotics Information Analysis -SGAIA- of the National Civil Police -PNC-, and officers of the Guatemalan Army, located two coca plantations.
These plantations were located in Izabal and Alta Verapaz. The coca bushes were eradicated and incinerated in both locations.
Izabal
During the operation, the authorities detected a coca bush plantation in El Pacayal, Livingston, Izabal, with a size of about seven street blocks.
The interinstitutional eradication operation took place on Saturday, July 8, with excellent results. A total of 220,652 coca bushes were found in the area. Authorities also located a laboratory that produces coca paste.
The plantation has an estimated value of USD 281,657.
Alta Verapaz
In San Marcos Chinau, Chahal, Alta Verapaz, 324,631 coca bushes were discovered. The orchards were in the harvesting phase, covering approximately nine blocks. The value of this plantation is USD 414,560.
Achievements Throughout The Year
The antinarcotics authorities reported eradicating 59.50 hectares of coca during the year. The estimated value of these plantations is USD 9.9 million. This effort continues reinforcing the Government of Guatemala’s security strategies implemented in the fight against drug trafficking.
Community Outreach
The police officers, in coordination with the personnel of the Special Antinarcotics Unit of Mingob, carry out different prevention actions and community outreach activities. The purpose is to inform people of Guatemala’s legal problems and sanctions for cultivating illicit plants.
Contact
The PNC makes available its emergency numbers 110, 1561 Crime Stoppers, 1577 anti-narcotics line, 1574 anti-extortion line, and the 1518 confidential line to provide safety to all Guatemalans.
