Date: Saturday 27 th April 2024 

The attention of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) has been drawn to a Facebook post authored by a popular social media influencer Melissa Atwell well known as “Melly Mel” placing allegations against the Director of CANU and its agents. The post alleges, inter alia, that “on the 22nd March 2024, Head of CANU and head of Customs along with other officers from both agencies in Lethem kidnapped and threatened to kill two (2) Brazilian Nationals”. 

 The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit rejects these allegations as they contain erroneous, malicious, slanderous and defamatory information against the Director of CANU and its agents. Although we acknowledge that the social media post was removed, the stain on our reputation remains; CANU will continue to work assiduously to investigate linkages between social media influencers posing as journalists and who may likely be linked to narco-traffickers.

 The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) is committed to being transparent at all levels, and this has been demonstrated over the years. As such, we are disappointed at such allegations that aim to tarnish our unit’s reputation and therefore, urge all social media influencers to fact-check information before posting as they have a responsibility to avoid the spread of misinformation. CANU will continue to execute its mandate as we continue to combat the narcotic drug trade in and around our country.