Police in Antigua and Barbuda have seized more than 26 lb of cannabis in two separate operations at the V.C Bird International Airport cargo facility within a 24-hour period.

In the most recent seizure, officers attached to the Narcotics Department and the Customs Enforcement Unit discovered a cardboard box containing 11 vacuum-sealed packages of vegetable material resembling cannabis at the Custom Cargo Shed at about 4:30 pm on January 30. 

The packages were seized and taken to Police Headquarters, where they were weighed and found to total 13 lb, with an estimated street value of EC$78,000.

The discovery came one day after a similar seizure at the same location on January 29, when officers conducting a routine search uncovered another cardboard box containing 11 vacuum-sealed packages of suspected cannabis. 

That shipment weighed 13.2 lb and had an estimated street value of EC$79,200. 

Police said the January 29 seizure was the largest for the year to date.

Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, and no further details have been released.

The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda said it remains committed to disrupting the importation and distribution of illegal drugs and will continue working closely with law-enforcement partners to protect the country’s borders.