Ganja found on GDF flagship
Recalled from Exercise Tradewinds
By Kim Lucas
Stabroek News
May 15, 2003
Seventy-five pounds of marijuana was unearthed aboard the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) flagship, 'GDFS Essequibo', yesterday morning, prompting the army to pull the ship from its participation in this year's Exercise Tradewinds in Barbados.
The ship set sail for Barbados on Sunday afternoon with seven officers and 33 Ratings under the command of Lieutenant Commander Floyd Levi for the Coast Guard phase of the exercise and arrived there early Tuesday morning.
Stabroek News understands that the ship was sanitized prior to its initial scheduled departure, which was on Saturday. But it left a day late because of a mechanical defect.
According to reports, the army suspects that sometime between Saturday afternoon and Sunday midday, an Ordinary Rank from the army's Coast Guard Division hired a local fishing boat, went aboard and stashed the prohibited substance. The rank reportedly then booked a flight to Barbados aboard a commercial aircraft, booked into a hotel, and waited for the arrival of the Essequibo. Reports said that he was acting in association with a man from Guyana.
Stabroek News understands that when the vessel docked, the rank donned his Coast Guard uniform and went to the port, where he breached port security and swam out to the ship. However, Stabroek News understands that the ship's security intercepted and questioned him. The soldier reportedly returned to Guyana yesterday and is in army custody.
A release from the army last night confirmed that the vessel had been recalled from Exercise Tradewinds after a quantity of marijuana was found on board.
"The discovery of the marijuana took place after a Coast Guard rank, who [was] not a crew member and who was absent without leave, attempted to illegally board the Essequibo and was arrested. During the interrogation, he disclosed the presence of the marijuana aboard the vessel. The Defence Board was notified and instructed that a thorough investigation be immediately carried out and recalled the vessel to Port Georgetown to allow the investigation to be conducted," the release stated.
According to the statement, the vessel commander notified the Directors of the Exercise about the vessel's recall and the Defence Board has been in contact with the American Ambassador in Guyana and the United States Army Southern Command (US SOUTHCOM) in Miami, which is responsible for funding Exercise Tradewinds.
The annual Exercise Tradewinds involves troops and security personnel from a number of regional armies and this year marked the second time the GDFS Essequibo was participating. The Exercise began on Tuesday and concludes on May 23.
The `GDFS Essequibo' is a converted minesweeper purchased from the UK.
