CENTRAL Division police have mounted a manhunt for a 41-year-old suspect after officers found 700 rounds of 9mm ammunition and in excess of six kilogrammes of compressed marijuana hidden in an apartment on Monday.

Officers from the Cunupia CID and Charge Room, acting on information and surveillance activity, raided the apartment at Matna Road, Endeavour, Chaguanas shortly around 5 p.m. when they found the illegal items.

The exercise, which was coordinated by ACP Terry Young, head of the Central, South and South-Western Divisions, was supervised by Snr Supt Deodath Dulalchan, head of the Central Division and led by Supt Johnny Abraham.

Police said they also found two bank note counters, electronic devices used to accurately check large quantities of cash, and an electronic scale, believed to be used in weighing the illegal drugs.

The drugs, believed to be from St Vincent, commonly called "Vincy press", were found wrapped in plastic inside a large blue cooler inside the apartment. It has an estimated street value of more than $60,000, police said.

In the same room, police found 700 rounds of 9mm ammunition in 14 crates also wrapped in plastic. Each of the crates contained 50 rounds of ammunition, police said.

A computer, which is believed to have valuable drug, gun and ammunition sales transactions stored on its hard drive, was also seized by Cunupia police.

Police believe the suspect may have handled hundreds of thousands of dollars and is also involved in the sales of guns and other contraband. He is also wanted on money laundering charges.

Among the officers who raided the apartment and recovered the items were Sgt Dhanie, WPC Gomez and PCs Phillip, Ramsaran, Boxhill and Jaikaran of the Cunupia Police Station.

The man, police said, had been occupying the premises since October 2010, paying a monthly rent of $4,000. The suspect, police said, usually paid the rent on time but is not listed as the tenant to whom the apartment was leased. The owner of the apartment was interviewed by police.

Officers said they have recognised that drug and gun runners have adopted a strategy of renting expensive apartments in upscale communities which are used as storage facilities for illegal contraband.

The apartment where the items were found, police said, was outfitted with expensive furniture and electronics and electrical appliances.

WPC Gomez is continuing investigations into the incident.

ACP Young, Snr Supt Dulalchan and Supt Abraham commended the officers for their diligent work in recovering the items. Young and Dulalchan only recently took up duties in their respective positions.

"We have already rolled out our anti-crime plan for Carnival and criminals or persons who wish to come to the Central Division to commit offences or use as an escape route, are being warned that they will be caught and made to feel the full brunt of the law," Supt Abraham told the Express following the seizure of the items.