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Snr. Superintendent Sawh, others still under U.S. sanction – Ambassador Theriot
(Kaieteur News) – United States (U.S.) Ambassador Nicole Theriot confirmed on Wednesday that financial sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) against individuals linked to Guyana’s four-tonnes cocaine seizure remain “in full effect.”
Speaking during sideline interviews at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Ambassador Theriot emphasized that the United States is not lifting restrictions as investigations continue into the massive September 2024 discovery.
United States Ambassador, Nicole Theriot
Among those currently under the shadow of OFAC sanctions is Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh, who served as the Commander for Region One when 4.4 tonnes of cocaine were found buried in bunkers in the North West District.
While public interest has intensified regarding the legal progress of those involved, the Ambassador remained tight-lipped on specific updates concerning criminal proceedings.
“These financial restrictions are not being lifted as investigations continue,” Theriot stated, though she noted she could not provide a timeline or specific status updates on legal proceedings at this stage. The drug bust, one of the largest in regional history, saw Sawh named alongside high-profile figures including Mark Cromwell (alias ‘Demon’), Paul Daby, Randolph Duncan, and two Colombian nationals.
Senior Superintendent, Himnauth Sawh
Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond recently confirmed that Sawh remains on administrative leave while local investigations into his alleged involvement in an international drug ring persist.
Addressing the specific case of Mae Thomas, who was sanctioned alongside the Mohamed family, Theriot maintained that Thomas remains subject to all OFAC restrictions. Despite calls for clarity on whether the U.S. has shared specific evidence of corruption regarding Thomas with the Guyanese government, officials indicated they were unaware of such data transfers.
The Embassy noted that withholding details is standard practice to preserve the integrity of active investigations. Crucially, Theriot clarified that the U.S. has not yet moved to extradite Thomas or the embattled Senior Superintendent. “No, those haven’t come through the Embassy. If that were something that would come through the Embassy, which would be a normal process, we have not received that,” the Ambassador said.
The status of the Mohamed family remains a distinct focal point of bilateral legal cooperation. Unlike the Region One drug bust figures, the Mohameds are currently navigating a formal extradition request process. Theriot described the request as a “standard legal procedure” for crimes of such a transnational scale, confirming the matter is currently before the courts. While the Ambassador could not confirm if further extradition requests would logically follow for other parties involved in recent seizures, she reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to its current sanctions regime.
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