One Venezuelan is among five persons in police custody in connection with the discovery of 330 pounds of cocaine stashed in the false bottoms of fuel containers.

Police Chief of Criminal Investigations, Assistant Commissioner, Seelall Persaud told demwaves.com that the men could be arraigned on Monday.

He declined to immediately say whether any of the four Guyanese are known to be associated with drug-traffickers, saying the probe was still ongoing.

Police found the cocaine in the false bottoms of the four plastic containers, based on a tip-off. The containers were in a boat fitted with two 75hp outboard motor engines at  Batavia Island, Cuyuni River, Mazaruni.

Persaud said the finger-prints of the man, who claims to be Venezuelan, will be sent to Interpol to ascertain whether he is wanted or has been involved in crimes elsewhere. The Venezuelan embassy here was Friday expected to be contacted.

After the Guyanese are charged, their finger-prints will also be lodged with the Interpol database. Logos on the cocaine packages, which suggest the South America origin of the drug, will also be shared with international law enforcement counterparts.

Other sources told demwaves.com that there were 137 packages of the illicit drug. No guns were found but sources familiar with the area say cocaine traffickers are also plying a thriving gun-trade in the Aranka area, providing weapons to gold miners who are vulnerable to banditry.

The detainees are 20-year old Amerindian, Terry Jones of Kurtuku Cuyuni, 41-year old Deonarine Singh of Friendship, East Bank Demerara; 32-year old Randolph ‘Fatboy’ Singh , 34-year old Clyn Collier of South Ruimveldt and Garcia Luis Alberto of Venezuela.