Law enforcement agencies defend anti-drug efforts
-CANU has documents on molasses bust
Stabroek News
July 31, 2004
The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has received "pertinent documents and information" in relation to the recent drug bust in the Netherlands where the authorities discovered cocaine in molasses which emanated from Guyana.
On June 22, Dutch customs authorities seized 693 kgs of cocaine, with a street value of about US$38M from a container at Rotterdam harbour hidden in steel drums of molasses. Two men were arrested in London in the matter but as with several other overseas busts there have been no arrests locally.
A joint release from the Guyana Police Force and CANU said that both forces are investigating the bust. CANU is in possession of the documents and information and is awaiting further word from Dutch investigators.
According to the release, CANU and the police force have been making strenuous efforts towards dismantling drug operations in Guyana.
"It has been erroneously reported in some sections of the media that local law enforcement agencies are dormant. It should be noted that the complexity of dual legal jurisdiction requires more careful and diligent enquiry, and interpretation of the jurisdictional matters," the release said.
This appears to be a response to the criticisms levelled against the agencies by media houses for their failure to make any arrests despite strong indications of the individuals behind the shipments.
The press release said that the interception of cocaine in rice shipped from Guyana into the UK has seen several persons being arrested by the police and questioned. It also revealed that upon receipt of further documentation the force should be in a position to proceed with the local investigations. This bust occurred in May 2003.
And both the agencies are working in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (US DEA) in relation to the February arrest of former national cyclist Paul Choo-Wee-Nam in Baltimore, USA with cocaine.
"As a result of local and international investigations, over an extended period, 13 persons were arrested and arraigned in the USA during the month of March, 2004. Joint investigations with the Guyana Police Force, CANU and US officials are in progress. The extradition procedure for three Guyanese arraigned in the USA has commenced." Though warrants were issued for these three men they have not been apprehended. Critics of the police have said that they appeared to have learnt of the impending warrant for them and fled the jurisdiction.
And according to the release, CANU in collaboration with the US DEA has a live investigation in progress and pertinent documents and statements were obtained from officials of the United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It said that some of the local players have been identified and CANU is awaiting further documents, which are in the process of being compiled by the US officials.
The release also mentioned the arresting and charging of members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in relation to the marijuana found on the GDF Flagship in May 2003 in Barbados.
The two agencies have also embarked on local investigations in relation to the May 2003 bust in the UK where some 120 kgs of cocaine was found concealed in timber. It said that UK law enforcement officials have visited Guyana and held discussions with officials of the force who, on the receipt of further documentation, should be in a position to proceed with the local investigation.