CHARGES AND CONVICTION – LEONARD CALEB On May 3, 2024, Leonard Caleb appeared before Magistrate Scarce at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court in relation to the charge of possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking to wit 12.540 kg of cannabis. Caleb was sentenced to four (4) years imprisonment and fined GY$11,286,000.
CANU Charges and Conviction Please be informed that on 24th April 2024, Eusi Wilson appeared before Magistrate Issacs at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, where he pleaded to the charge of possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking to wit 22kgs of cannabis, and was remanded to prison until 9th May 2024 pending a probation report.
CANU SEIZES A QUANTITY OF CANNABIS IN THE VICINITY OF BOURDA MARKET, GEORGETOWN On Friday 19th April 2024, CANU Officers conducted an operation in the vicinity of North Road and Bourda Market, where they intercepted a male carrying a bulky white plastic bag. A subsequent search of the bag revealed several transparent Ziploc bags containing a quantity of suspected cannabis. Lochan Beharry, age 41 years old, who is a vendor of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, was escorted to CANU’s Headquaters with the suspected narcotic, which tested positive for cannabis and weighed 282 grammes. Investigations are ongoing.
CANU DISCOVERS FIREARM On Wednesday 10th April 2024, CANU Officers conducted an operation within the Agricola, East Bank Demerara area. A subsequent search of an abandoned house lot led to the discovery of a .22 pistol. The weapon was taken to CANU’s headquarters. Investigations are ongoing.
TRIAL UPDATE: JOSE FELIX LINDORE AND JAVIER PEREZ On the 2nd April, 2024, Jose Felix Lindore and Javier Perez appeared before Magistrate George at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court where they both pleaded not guilty to the offence of trafficking a narcotic to wit 536 kilograms of cocaine. Lindore and Perez were remanded to prison until 10th May 2024.
CONVICTION AND TRIAL UPDATE: SHAMMY EDWARDS AND KEN SUMMER On Tuesday 2nd April, 2024, Shammy Edwards and Ken Summer appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court in relation to the offence of trafficking a narcotic to wit 5.994kgs of cannabis. Edwards pleaded guilty and was released by the Magistrate on his own recognizance pending a probation report and sentencing, whilst Sumner pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of GY$200,000.
VENEZUELAN NATIONALS ARRESTED Following the publication issued by the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit on the 29th March, 2024, regarding the seizure of 536 kilogrammes or 1,181 pounds of cocaine, that occurred during a joint operation involving the GDF Coast Guard and CANU at Vergenoegen, Essequibo-Island West Demerara. Two Venezuelan males were apprehended in connection with the matter. The individuals identified as Jose Felix Lindore, 32-year-old, and Javier Perez, 33-year-old, were arrested and subsequently escorted to CANU’s Headquarters on the said date. Investigations are ongoing.
CANU DISCOVERS A QUANTITY OF CANNABIS AT A RESIDENCE IN FORT ORDINANCE VILLAGE, EAST BERBICE-CORENTYNE On 30th March, 2024, CANU Officers conducted an operation at a residence in Fort Ordinance village, East Berbice-Corentyne. A subsequent search of the said premises led to the discovery of several bulky parcels of suspected cannabis concealed in a freezer. Two male individuals who were present at the premises during the operation were apprehended. Shammy Edward, 23 years, and Ken Summer, 49 years, both residing at the said address were arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters along with the suspected narcotic. The narcotic tested positive for cannabis, weighting approximately 5.994 kg (almost 13.21 lbs.), with a street value of approximately GUY $ 1.8 million. Investigations are ongoing.
A JOINT OPERATION WITH CANU AND THE GDF COAST GUARD LED TO THE DISCOVER OF A LARGE QUANTITY OF COCAINE On Friday, March 29, 2024, ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) and GDF Coast Guard conducted a joint operation at Vergenoegen, Essequibo-Island West Demerara, where they intercepted a go fast vessel with two occupants. A subsequent search of the said vessel led to the discovery of a large quantity of narcotics, along with a quantity of fuel and other items. Two persons are presently in custody. The said narcotic was tested and proven to be cocaine. The total, when weighed, amounted to 536 kilos, or 1,181 lbs, with a street value in Guyana of $2.6 million USD. Had the cocaine been transshipped to its intended destination, it would’ve amounted to a street value of over 20 million euros. Investigations are ongoin
CHARGES AND TRIAL UPDATE: ADRIAN CAREW AND CAVEL CAREW On Friday 22nd March, 2024, Adrian Carew and Cavel Carew appeared before Magistrate Scarce at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court where they both pleaded not guilty to the offence of trafficking a narcotic to wit 11.204 kilograms of cocaine. Adrian Carew was remanded to prison, whilst Cavel Carew was granted bail in the sum of GY$600,000 on the condition that he reports to Custom Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) headquarters every month.
CONVICTION: LEONARD BRISTOL On Friday 22nd March, 2024, Leonard Bristol appeared before Magistrate Mc Gusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, where he was sentenced to three (3) years imprisonment and fined GY$10,492,200 in relation to the offence of possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking to wit 11.658kgs of cannabis.
CANU SEIZES A QUANTITY OF COCAINE On Wednesday 20th March 2024, CANU Officers conducted an operation in the Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara area, where they intercepted a canter vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed several bricklike parcels suspected to be cocaine concealed in a box. Adrian Carew, age 55 years of 38 Rainbow City Wismar Linden and Cavel Carew, age 27 years of 871 Central Amelia’s Ward Linden, were arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters along with the suspected narcotic which tested positive for cocaine and weighed 11.204 kilograms. Investigations are ongoing.
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.