A source close to the probe said yesterday that considerable inroads are being made as more people are pulled in for questioning.

Investigators are seeking to find out whether the marijuana came into the country from Jamaica or was packed here, and according to another source, this will result in even more scrutiny of incoming containers.

The container, which arrived in the country on May 1 last from Jamaica, brought a consignment of plastic bags for Wholesale Depot at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

It was about to be loaded onto a Seafreight Line vessel `HENRICH-J' to be shipped to Miami when the bust was made last Thursday at John Fernandes Shipping Wharf.

Deputy Head of CANU, Mr. Vibert Inniss, had said during the weighing of the narcotics, that CANU and Customs have for sometime been targeting empty containers leaving the country, as it is believed that the mode is frequently used to transship drugs from Guyana.

Thursday's drug bust was the second biggest by CANU on a wharf, and it took ranks from CANU and Customs more than two hours to remove, weigh, and load the parcels into a vehicle for removal under security.

The bust was reminiscent of a similar occurrence on January 5, 1995 at the John Fernandes Shipping wharf.

Then, 5,000 pounds of marijuana were uncovered in another 40-ft container, which was also being shipped to Miami.

The weight of the container had caused it to lean and the boom of the crane that lifted it to snap, thereby rousing suspicions that the container was not really empty.

Further investigations led to a then popular Regent Street businessman and two other persons being arrested. They were all subsequently acquitted. - (WENDELLA DAVIDSON)