A statement by the Guyana Police Force says that on submitting a copy of the report to the local authorities, Scotland Yard will formally request the assistance of the Police here to pursue the probe into the cocaine shipment.

The illicit drug, estimated to have a street value of up to nine million pounds sterling, was discovered in a consignment of lumber that was shipped to London from Guyana on Monday, June 9.

The bust led to the apprehension and charging of eight persons, including one Jamaican. And then there were reports here that at least seven Scotland Yard officers were in Guyana to try to determine who was responsible for the shipment of the drug into the UK.

The Police statement here last night said Eve Leary contacted the “competent authority in the UK and was provided with limited information pertinent to the seizure. Based on this limited information, the Police conducted investigations immediately.

“In the course of the investigations it was revealed, inter alia, that between April 14 and May 16, 2003 several local companies, including Barama Company Limited, Boorabo Enterprises Limited Incorporated, Willems Timber and Trading Company, Toolsie Persaud Limited, A. Mazaharally and Sons Limited, and Guyana Timber Products Inc., shipped lumber to the United Kingdom via several ocean-going vessels, including EWL West Indies, EWL Antilles and EWL Venezuela.

“The UK authorities, however, have indicated that they are in the process of compiling the evidence and report arising out of the investigation, after which they will formally request the assistance of the Government of Guyana, more specifically the Guyana Police Force, in pursuing further investigations into the matter.

“The request has not yet been made.”