CANU Charges and Conviction On Tuesday 12th March, 2024, Naresh Ramdeen appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court where he was found guilty of the offence of trafficking in narcotic to wit 13.348kgs of cannabis. Ramdeen was sentenced to two (2) years imprisonment and fined GY$12,013,200.
CONVICTION: LEONARD CALEB On Tuesday 5th March, 2024, Leonard Caleb appeared before Magistrate Scarce at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court, where he changed his plea to guilty for the offence of Trafficking in Narcotic to wit, 12.540kgs of cannabis. Sentencing was deferred to Tuesday 19th March, 2024
CANU SEIZES A QUANTITY FOREIGN CANNABIS On Sunday 3rd March, 2024, CANU Officers conducted an operation in the vicinity of Fisher Village, Essequibo Coast, where they observed a multi-coloured speedboat operated by two individuals. The ranks then pursued the boat which caused the individuals to run aground and subsequently made good their escape on foot. A subsequent search of the boat revealed several bulky whitish color salt bags containing six hundred and sixty (660) brick-like parcels suspected to be cannabis. The narcotic was escorted to CANU’s Headquarters where it was tested and determined to be a foreign marijuana commonly known as “Creepy” and weighed 300kgs with a street value of GY$44,000,000. This narcotic would have been further transshipped to other territories where the street value would have been much higher. Thus far, for the year 2024, the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) has intercepted 859kgs of foreign marijuana entering Guyana for the purpose of transshipment.
conviction: charles abrams On Friday 1st March, 2024 Charles Abrams appeared before Magistrate Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court, where he was found guilty for the offence of Trafficking in Narcotic to wit 294 grams of cannabis. He was sentenced to two (2) years imprisonment and fined Two Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand Three Hundred Dollars (GY$264,300).
Conviction: Paul LEWIS On Thursday, February 29, 2024, Paul Lewis appeared before Magistrate Hugh at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court, where he was found guilty of the offence of possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking to wit 3.954kg of cannabis. Lewis was sentenced to two (2) years and six (6) months imprisonment and fined GY$ 3,558,600.
Conviction – IAN GRIFFITH Please be informed that on today’s date, Ian Griffith appeared before Magistrate Ally at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court where he was sentenced to three (3) years and one (1) month imprisonment and fined GY$3,495,000. On Wednesday 28th February 2024, Griffith appeared before Magistrate Ally at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court and was found guilty of the offence of trafficking in narcotics to wit 2.330kgs of cocaine. On March 3rd 2022, Ian Griffith was arrested and subsequently charged after being found with 2.330kgs of cocaine during an operation conducted between Ruby and Den Amstel, East Bank Essequibo.
CANU SEIZES A QUANTITY OF COCAINE AT THE CJIA On Thursday 22nd February 2024, CANU Officers attached to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, while performing duties at the baggage shed area intercepted two (2) males, who were observed retrieving four (4) duffle bags over the CJIA’s fence from an unknown male. A search of the said duffle bags led to the discovery of sixty four (64) brick-like parcels suspected to be cocaine. Travis Sealey, age 26, a shift leader attached to the New Timehri Handling Service (NTHS) and Koby Bakker, age 20, a ground security coordinator attached to Secure Innovations and Concept (SIC), both of Timehri, along with the suspected narcotic were escorted to CANU’s headquarters, where the suspected narcotic tested positive for cocaine and weighed 71.2 kg, which has an estimated street value of GY$64,000,000. The narcotic was intended to be loaded on a British Airways Flight bound for St. Lucia (UVF), with onwards connection to the United Kingdom. If the narcotic had reached its intended destination, the estimated street value would have been over £3,000,000 which is equivalent to approximately GY$679,000,000. Investigations are ongoing.
CANU Seizes a Quantity of Cocaine On Thursday 8th February 2024, CANU officers conducted an intelligence-led operation at the Cornelia Ida Public Road area, where officers intercepted a motor vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed ten (10) brick-like parcels wrapped in transparent plastic suspected to be cocaine. Sahadeo Prasad,age 39 years, of Grant 104 Anna Catherina West Coast Demerara was arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters along with the suspected narcotic, which tested positive for cocaine. Investigations are ongoing.
CANU Seizes Foreign Cannabis and Ammunition Date of Interception: Friday 9th February, 2024 Place of Interception: Eccles Housing Scheme, East BankDemerara • On Friday 9th February 2024, CANU Officers conducted an operation atEccles Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, where they intercepted a motorvehicle driven by a lone male occupant. A search of the motor vehicle revealedfive (5) large bales wrapped with black plastic, containing two hundred and fifty(250) brick-like parcels suspected to be cannabis. A further search wasconducted at the residence which led to the discovery of seven (7) 9mm liverounds of ammunition in a magazine. • Rohan Rambarran called “Sauce” of Eccles Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, wasarrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters along with the ammunition andsuspected cannabis which was tested and determined to be foreign marijuanaknown as “Creepy”. • In December 2009, Rambarran, along with four (4) others were convicted for theimportation, possession and trafficking of 91.3 kilos of cannabis and 119.4kilos of cocaine which were concealed in logs discovered on 29thNovember 2005. Rambarran was sentenced concurrently to twenty-five (25) yearsfor trafficking cannabis and thirty (30) years for trafficking cocaine. On 29thAugust 2019, the Barbados Court of Appeal ordered the release of Rambarran ontime served, and he was subsequently deported to Guyana. • Investigationsare ongoing.
CANU Seizes a Quantity of Cocaine & Cannabis Date of Interception: Thursday 8th February 2024 Place of Interception: Cornelia Ida Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara • On Thursday 8th February 2024, CANU Officers whilst conducting a follow-up investigation in the Cornelia Ida Housing Scheme area, conducted a search at a residence which led to the discovery of five hundred and eighteen (518) bricklike parcels, wrapped in transparent plastic suspected to be cannabis and twelve (12) brick-like parcels wrapped in transparent plastic suspected to be cocaine. • Two (2) foreign nationals were arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters along with the suspected narcotics, which tested positive for cocaine and foreign marijuana known as “Creepy”. • Investigations are ongoing.
Nishart Samsundar Pleads Guilty to Narcotics Trafficking and Cultivation Charges Please be informed that on today’s date, Nishart Samsundar appeared before Magistrate Scarce at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court, charged with the offences of Possession of Narcotic for the purpose of trafficking, to wit 1.976kgs of cannabis, and Cultivating a prohibited plant.Samsundar pled guilty to both offences and was sentenced to four (4) years imprisonment together with a fine of GY$1,778,400 for the trafficking offence and four (4) years imprisonment for cultivating a prohibited plant.Both sentences are to run concurrently
CANU seizes cannabis in Crabwood Creek, Corentyne Berbice On Thursday 25th January 2024, CANU Officers conducted a joint operation with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the Crabwood Creek area, where they observed two (2) males loading several bulky salt bags into a Toyota motor car.The vehicle was intercepted, and a subsequent search revealed four (4) bulky salt bags containing five (5) parcels wrapped in transparent plastic containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.Anil Naipaul, age 29 years of Grant 1802 Crabwood Creek, and Keshando Shewnarain, age 33 years of Skeldon, Corentyne Berbice, were arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters along with the suspected cannabis. The narcotic tested positive for cannabis and weighed approximately 79.6 kg (approximately 175 lbs), which has a street value of approximately GUY $23 million. Investigations are ongoing.
CANU’s eradication exercise at Hauraruni Village off the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, resulted in the arrest of two, the seizure of 1.976 kgs. of cannabis, and several plants and one (1) 12-gauge cartridge On Thursday 25th January 2024, CANU Officers conducted an eradication exercise at Hauraruni Village off the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where they observed two camps, and a cannabis farm consisting of about two hundred (200) cannabis plants ranging from 2ft. to 4ft. and about five thousand (5,000) nursery cannabis plants. A search of the camps revealed approximately one hundred (100) pounds of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis and one (1) 12-gauge cartridge. The plants and approximately one hundred (100) pounds of cannabis were destroyed. Nazelena Alli, age 33, and Nishart Samsundar, age 20, both of Timehri North, East Bank Demerara, were arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters along with 1.976 kgs. of the suspected cannabis, several plants and the cartridge. Investigations are ongoing.
CANU CONDUCTS eradication exercise at Hauraruni Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway On Thursday 25th January 2024, CANU Officers conducted an eradication exercise at Hauraruni Village off the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where they observed two camps, and a cannabis farm consisting of about two hundred (200) cannabis plants ranging from 2ft. to 4ft. and about five thousand (5,000) nursery cannabis plants. A search of the camps revealed approximately one hundred (100) pounds of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis and one (1) 12-gauge cartridge. The plants and approximately one hundred (100) pounds of cannabis were destroyed. Nazelena Alli, age 33, and Nishart Samsundar, age 20, both of Timehri North, East Bank Demerara, were arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters along with 1.976 kgs. of the suspected cannabis, several plants and the cartridge. Investigations are ongoing.
CANU CHARGES AND CONVICTIONS: Joshua Mentore sentenced to nine (9) months imprisonment and fined. On Thursday 18th January, 2024, Joshua Mentore appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Isaacs, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for probation report and sentencing. Mentore was sentenced to nine (9)months imprisonment and fined GYD 153,000.
CANU Charges and Conviction : Latchman Sankar, aka “Jack” On Thursday 18th January, 2024, Latchman Sankar aka “Jack” appeared before Magistrate Ali at the Lenora Magistrate’s Court, charged with the offence of Possession of Narcotic for the purpose of Trafficking to wit 55.2 kgs of cannabis. Sankar pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four (4) years imprisonment and fined GYD 49,685,000.
Conviction thursday 18th January, 2024 Please be informed that on Thursday 18th January, 2024, Joshua Mentore appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Isaacs, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for probation report and sentencing. Mentore was sentenced to nine (9) months imprisonment and fined GYD 153,000.
CANU charges and conviction: David McDonald On 19th January, 2024, David Mc Donald appeared before Magistrate Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court, charged with the offence of possession of a narcotic for the purpose of Trafficking to wit 84 grammes of cannabis. Mc Donald pleaded guilty and was fined GYD 75,000 or default six (6) months imprisonment.
CANU discovers outgoing passenger at the Eugene F. Correira International Airport with 84 grams of cannabis in his possession On Wednesday 17th January 2024, CANU Officers conducted a search on an outgoing passenger at the Eugene F. Correira International Airport, East Coast Demerara, destined to Aurora, Region 7, and found a transparent parcel containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.David McDonald, age 23, a labourer of Lot 23 Old Kara Kara, McKenzie Linden, was arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters along with the narcotic which was weighed and amounted to 84 grams.Investigations are ongoing.
CANU seizes firearm and ammunition On Tuesday 16th January 2024, CANU Officers conducted an operation in the East Ruimveldt area, where they observed a male carrying a bulky salt bag. Upon seeing the CANU Officers, the male dropped the said bag and made good his escape. A subsequent search of the bag revealed a 12-gauge shotgun and 5 matching rounds of ammunition.The firearm along with the ammunition was escorted to CANU’s Headquarters.Investigations are ongoing.
CANU officers carried out an eradication exercise in St. Cuthbert’s Mission District, Mahaica River. On Tuesday 16th January 2024, CANU Officers conducted an eradication exercise in the St. Cuthbert’s Mission District, Mahaica River, where they discovered approximately two hundred (200) small cannabis plants. The plants were destroyed. Investigations are ongoing.