Guatemala destroys poppy, marijuana plants worth $780 mn
February 6th, 2010 - 5:12 pm ICT by IANSGuatemala City, Feb 6 (IANS/EFE) Guatemala has destroyed opium poppy and marijuana plants worth $780 million in the country’s western San Marcos province, an official said.
Police spokesman Donald Gonzalez said Friday the crops were destroyed in the Ixiguan and Tajumulco municipalities by a joint team of Guatemalan police, military and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. People responsible for the crops have fled the area, he said.
The San Marcos area falls on the border with Mexico and used by drug cartels for poppy cultivation - raw material of heroin. Last year, opium crops worth $1.66 billion were destroyed in the country.
–IANS/EFE
snb/vt
- Five women decapitated in Mexican city - Apr 25, 2011
- Suspect in slaying of Argentine singer nabbed - Mar 14, 2012
- Mexican gets 60 years for drug massacre - May 21, 2010
- Remains of missing Mexican politician found in mass grave - Mar 17, 2012
- Four die in Mexico prison fight - Jan 30, 2012
- Four killed in Guatemala violence - Jul 28, 2010
- Guatemala arrests former top cop for killings - Mar 24, 2012
- Tropical storm Agatha kills 40 in Guatemala (Lead) - May 31, 2010
- Green Battalion to protect Guatemala's national park - Nov 07, 2010
- 14 dead in Guatemala accident - Jan 09, 2011
- Guatemalan sisters reunited after 30 years - Oct 09, 2010
- Mayor gunned down in Guatemala - Feb 19, 2010
- 17 cocaine labs destroyed in Colombia - Jan 26, 2012
- Uruguayan police nab Brazilian drug trafficker - Jun 07, 2010
- 'King of Heroin' arrested in Mexico (Lead) - Mar 26, 2010
Tags: city feb, crops, drug cartels, drug enforcement administration, efe, guatemala city, guatemalan police, heroin, marijuana plants, mexico, municipalities, opium poppy, police spokesman, poppy cultivation, raw material, san marcos area, snb, tajumulco, western san marcos