Guatemala’s National Civil Police, through its anti-narcotics analysis unit SGAIA, carried out an eradication operation in the municipality of Las Cruces, Petén, that destroyed 87,800 marijuana plants.[1][2] The operation was conducted with the Guatemalan Army in mountain areas near caserío Flor de la Esperanza, where authorities identified and destroyed three illicit cultivation zones.[1][2] A second Guatemalan outlet confirms that SGAIA anti-narcotics police and the Army eradicated 87,800 marijuana plants in a mountain area of Las Cruces, Petén.[3]

Officers located and incinerated the fields, which were in fase de aprovechamiento, the harvestable stage.[1] The inter-institutional operation allowed the discovery and subsequent incineration of the plantations.[3] The official valuation put the incinerated crop at about Q43,900, about 5,747.81 dollars.[1] La Red separately gave the same Q43,900 valuation for the plants at the time they were found in the harvestable stage.[3]

SGAIA highlighted citizen complaints for identifying and locating the crops, and authorities thanked reports to the Línea Antinarcótica that enabled early detection.[1] La Red reported that the authorities thanked citizen complaints received through the telephone numbers 110 and 1577 of the Línea Antinarcótica.[3][2] Authorities said the actions form part of a planned strategy to weaken criminal structures dedicated to producing and trafficking drugs in rural areas.[1][2]