$240M cocaine found in Guyana lumber at UK port
Seven arraigned in Welsh court
Stabroek News
June 10, 2003
Guyanese authorities were yesterday frantically trying to get information about a consignment of local timber in which 120 kilogrammes (264 lbs) of cocaine were discovered at a United Kingdom port.
Seven persons yesterday appeared in the Caerphilly Magistrate’s Court, Wales facing charges related to the seizure. The cocaine is said to have a street value of $240 million.
The seven include 37-year-old Jamaican businessman, Lebert Anthony Barrows of St Elizabeth, Bethsalem, Jamaica; Anthony Junior Chambers, of Newport, South Wales (hairdresser and property developer); Michael Silcox, of Llanelly Hill, near Newport (businessman); Gerald Davies, of 6 Coopers Way, Llantrisant (businessman); Mohammed Afzal Shaheen, of Pontypool (accountant and property developer); Milton Wilson, of Newport (civil servant) and Joseph Salmon, of Newport (businessman).
They were remanded into custody and are to return in court on June 16.
The shipment was intercepted at Felixstowe, a container port in England. However, a report in the Welsh daily, the Western Mail, said that the consignment’s final destination was said to be Wales, where the others charged with the seizure, live. No member of the crew of the vessel, which transported the shipment, was detained. Stabroek News understands that the vessel arrived at Felixstowe on May 29 having departed Guyana on April 29.
Commissioner of Forests, James Singh told Stabroek News that he had heard of the incident but had been unable to contact the British High Commission in his efforts to get more information.
Singh, whose agency licenses timber exports, explained that his officers would check to ensure that the consignment corresponded with the amount and species stated on the licence. He added that his agency was conducting an investigation and would be issuing a release about its findings.
The Forest Products Association said too that it was also making enquiries about the incident as it had heard of the incident formally through one of its members who called to say that he had heard about it on the BBC.
Stabroek News was unable to reach the Commissioner, Customs and Trade Administrations but inquiries revealed that if the consignment was shipped in a container then it should have been sealed after the consignment was inspected.
The Police, Stabroek News understands, have not formally been notified of the incident but have contacted Interpol to get more information. (Patrick Denny)
