Latest update November 17th, 2024 12:13 AM
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100 kilo cocaine bust…CANU ranks under close arrest over missing coke
…police called in
Two officers of the country’s main anti-narcotics unit are now the subject of a police investigation after it had been discovered that a quantity of cocaine has disappeared from its stores.
Cocaine Fish
This comes less than 24 hours after Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) agents swooped down on a Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara house where they unearthed more than 100 kilogrammes of cocaine during an undercover operation.
Acting on intelligence, anti-drug agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) raided the house and seized the illicit substance and a large sum of money in both local and United States currency.
Some of the cocaine was stuffed in frozen seafood, while the remainder was found to be bricks of raw coke. Reports are that the bust was a result of a five-hour sting operation which began around 13:00 hours yesterday.
As a result, businessman Barry Dataram, also called ‘Mogotani’ or Kevin Dataram, who was in the house, was arrested. He was with his reputed wife and three others at the time of the bust. The five are still in custody and are assisting with investigations.
Speaking with Kaieteur News Thursday evening, Head of CANU, James Singh, said that anti-drug agents had received information that a major narcotics operation was taking place at the location.
He said that his ranks swiftly stormed the house before the occupants could stash the narcotics. Singh said investigations are ongoing and charges are expected to be laid shortly.
Despite yesterday’s development, Dataram will be charged, a CANU official confirmed.
Dataram, a Guyana-born American, had successfully fought off efforts to extradite him to the United States to face drug smuggling charges. Between 2008 and 2010, Dataram was engaged in several successful legal manoeuvres in Guyana’s High Court to prevent him from being sent to the US for trial.
The United States was unable to secure his provisional arrest because the extradition treaty between Guyana and the US clashes with the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act, which says “no one shall be extradited or kept in custody for the purpose of extradition from Guyana to another country unless provision has been made by that Commonwealth or treaty-country for ensuring that they would not be extradited to a third country for trial of any offence without the consent of the Minister.”
In January, collaboration between agencies involved in the country’s Container Control Programme resulted in the confiscation of 192 kilograms, 420 grams of cocaine destined for Europe.
Drug fighters had intercepted a cargo ship, MV DELTADIEP, while at Linden in Region Ten, and arrested several members of the crew.
Last August, a Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) was found in the dense jungle of the hinterland. The semi-submersible vessel was more than likely built at the camp site in Waini River, North West District, Region One.
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