By Sue-Ann Wayow

COMMISSIONER of Police Allister Guevarro was part of a police operation on Wednesday that discovered and destroyed over $1million worth of cannabis in the North Central Division.

The operation occurred between 6.30 am and 9.30 am during which a team of officers conducted an intelligence-led Cannabis Suppression Operation in the St Joseph area, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated in a media release.

The officers ventured approximately one mile into a mountainous, forested area where they uncovered three cannabis fields spanning roughly four lots of land, along with two narcotics camps.

During the operation, approximately 1,390 fully grown cannabis trees and two seedling beds were destroyed.

 One suspect from St Joseph, was arrested on site for cultivating approximately 100 fully grown cannabis trees.

The estimated street value of the destroyed cannabis is $1,390,000.

Guevarro commended the officers of the Special Intelligence Unit (SIU) Jungle Operations Team, supervised by Cpl Mohammed, the Firearm Trafficking Interdiction Unit, under Cpl Seelalsingh, the Northern Division-West Task Force led by ASP Bharath, and the Air Support Unit under the supervision of Insp Rampalard, for their diligence and commitment to disrupting the illegal drug trade.

He emphasised that such operations not only remove illicit drugs from circulation within communities, but also weaken the financial strength of criminal networks.

Investigations are continuing by officers of the North Central Division, the TTPS stated.