Police officers in Guyana suspected of facilitating movement of illegal aircraft and drugs

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC –  As investigations into the discovery of 4.4 tonnes of cocaine buried near an illegal airstrip in Guyana widens, investigators from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit are examining the alleged involvement of police officers who may be stationed in communities in the area.

When it launched its probe of illegal airstrips and the movement of drugs in the region, the police in the area were left in the dark.

The unit turned to the Guyana Defence Force and the US Drug Enforcement Agency for support.

According to a report published by NewsSource Guyana, the move by the unit may have been triggered by allegations of police collusion in the movement of illegal aircraft and drugs in the Region One area.

Questioned about those reports, the unit's director James Singh said the acting police commissioner and the Crime Chief have both been briefed on the reports.

“From all indications, most of the persons involved in this are foreign nationals. There is some speculation that there was some local assistance and that is still being investigated. As you alluded to just now, about the involvement of police and other law enforcement persons, the Commissioner of Police and I had a meeting last evening along with the Crime Chief and we are working on that together,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken said he is unaware of the reports of the possible involvement of police officers.

Hicken said he first learnt of the allegations through the media.

“I don't know about that. I saw something published in the papers, and we don't do it like that. If there is an involvement, there will be an investigation. CANU is dealing with it in this regard,” Hicken said.

Singh said it is clear from the terrain of the area where the illegal airstrip and the drugs were discovered that there must have been some local support.

“This could not have gone without some assistance. And that is why we are working with various agencies, as well as engaging persons in the community to find out who might have assisted and did they know what they were doing. Were they duped into thinking they were building an airstrip for mining concessions or did they know exactly that, because something of that magnitude, if you are having a plane there, they had to build an airstrip and supply the plane with fuel and so all of these things show that there was some connection here in Guyana, we just have to know how far,” he stated.

The unit is receiving international assistance with its investigations into the massive drug bust, which resulted in the seizure and destruction of US$200 million worth of cocaine.

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