GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Guyana’s Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) says it has seized several cannabis vape cartridges on Thursday and is warning of “high-risk emerging threats, particularly to minors”.

CANU said the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) cartridges could potentially be carrying poisonous chemicals.

“Cannabis vapes expose users to high concentrations of THC and unknown chemical additives, which can cause serious short-term and long-term health problems. Because these products are often unregulated or counterfeit, the risks are significantly higher,” CANU said, adding that its agents on Thursday seized multiple branded THC cannabis vapes.

“The seizure indicates an emerging shift toward the importation of high-potency cannabis concentrates disguised as consumer vape products. The packaging is colourful, professionally printed and designed to appeal to youths, increasing the risk of rapid spread if circulation is not contained.”

The anti-drug agency said the chemical composition and potential contaminants remain unknown, and samples have been earmarked for laboratory analysis.

CANU notes that under Guyana’s laws, these substances are 100 per cent illegal regardless of packaging, branding or foreign “medical use” labels.

Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Cap 10:10, cannabis and its derivatives are listed as controlled substances. This classification includes the cannabis plant, cannabis resin, extracts and tinctures of cannabis, THC and any product containing THC. Live resin and THC vape oil fall directly under cannabis resin and extracts, which are prohibited.

CANU said that, as a result, possession, trafficking, importation, or sale is illegal in Guyana and that the “for medical use only” labels on the boxes have no legal standing in Guyana and do not change the fact that the products are prohibited.

CANU stressed that none of these labels corresponds to the Guyana Food and Drug Department, any local licensing authority, Guyana Forensics Laboratory testing or any legal cannabis framework in Guyana.

It added that its early warning system tracks trends, packaging styles, chemical profiles, and trafficking patterns linked to concentrated cannabis products. Once flagged, the system issues alerts, guides frontline officers and feeds actionable intelligence into national enforcement operations, the agency said.