Morgan's extradition hearing could be over in 60 days
Stabroek News
March 27, 2007
Trinidad and Tobago could be ready to extradite Guyanese businessman Peter Morgan to the US to face three drug indictments within 60 days, authorities in that country have said.
Morgan, facing three courts of drug trafficking in the US made another appearance in a Port of Spain magistrates' court yesterday and was further remanded until April 2. Yesterday's session lasted for about two minutes, during which time one of Morgan's lawyers, Ravi Rajcoomar told the court that he was still checking some new information he had received in relation to the case.
Stabroek News was told that Trinidad authorities have since informed the court that the relevant documentation from the US pertaining to the extradition would arrive within 60 days. Once the documents arrive, the extradition hearing would take no more than a month.
Morgan of Oleander Gar-dens, East Coast Demerara was nabbed at the Piarco International Airport two weeks ago, while in transiting in Port of Spain on a flight from Panama.
The US government has accused him of three counts of trafficking in narcotics to that country and is seeking his extradition from T&T to New York to face the charges. Trinidad has also accused the Guyanese of being a primary cocaine supplier to St Maarten, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
The Trinidad government has alleged that between October 2001 and 2003, Morgan trafficked in between 15 kilos and 100 kilos of cocaine to the four countries and the US. Morgan was nabbed on the provisional arrest warrant by US drug agents working with Trinidad authorities at Piarco International Airport, just days after an indictment was unsealed in a New York court charging him with three counts of drug conspiracy.
According to the provisional warrant, between October 1, 2001 and August 31, 2003, Morgan allegedly knowingly and intentionally conspired with David Narine, Susan Narine, Hung Fung Mar and persons unknown to import cocaine. During the same period, Morgan also allegedly imported cocaine into the US. Guyana's Attorney-General Doodnauth Singh told reporters last week that Morgan is likely one of the 14 Guyanese the US government had indicated it wanted to extradite two years ago to face drug trafficking charges.