Guatemala clears more than 117,000 marijuana plants in Petén

The country’s Interior Minister, Francisco Jiménez, described in his X profile the actions carried out in the municipality of Las Cruces, saying that the bushes were worth about six million dollars.

Troops of the National Civil Police (PNC) and the army participated, as part of the current authorities’ open fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. A week ago, the head of the Ministry of the Interior himself announced the elimination of 64 thousand marijuana plants in the jungle of that district, destroying plants worth more than three million dollars.

The agency said criminal organizations lost approximately 1.525 million quetzales (nearly $200 million) in the first half of the year, including through the seizure of illegal funds, money and goods.

During the same period, 10,740.05 kilograms of cocaine, 594.51 kilograms of marijuana, 5.23 kilograms of crack and 1.87 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized.

Given the continued operations of transnational criminal organizations, local analysts call for strengthening the capacities of the armed forces, the PNC and other bodies to make their work more effective and productive.

According to official figures, Guatemala seized more than $265 million worth of drugs, weapons and goods related to organized crime and drug trafficking in 2023.

Imported/Ro/ZNC