Cultivation and Production. Marijuana is the principal drug crop produced and is grown extensively in the forest and jungle areas of northern, eastern and southern Trinidad, and to a minor extent on Tobago. Authorities identified an estimated crop of 25 million marijuana plants by helicopter during the weed eater operation in January 1996. South American cocaine is liquified in Trinidad and Tobago, for export in some cases. Airport security detected several attempts to smuggle liquified cocaine via commercial aircraft at Piarco International Airport during the year.
Cocaine enters Trinidad primarily by small fishing boats from Venezuela.
Small landing strips also have been discovered near marijuana fields. Cocaine is smuggled out in containers, commercial aircraft, small aircraft and private boats. A fair amount is also carried by drug couriers. There are no reliable statistics on the amount of cocaine that transits Trinidad, though estimates range up to 2,000 kgs per month. Several NGOs, one of which receives USG funding support, run successful rehabilitation centers for addicts.