THE OFFICE of Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards is presently reviewing the files complied by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to the multi-million-dollar cash seizures at two locations along the East Coast Demerara two weeks ago.This was confirmed by head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sydney James, speaking with journalists at the official opening of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office at the United States Embassy in Georgetown yesterday morning.

Asked to give details on the operations of the department, and more specifically the raids where the sums of cash were seized, James said the matter was engaging the CJ’s Office, and for him to speak on a matter engaging her attention when she was present at the opening of the DEA office at the Embassy would be disrespectful.

However, he said the department has been engaged in a number of anti-money laundering operations, and some of those were done over the weekend. He said the department would very shortly be updating the media on the new developments.

Asked about the persons whose premises were raided two weeks ago, when the large quantity of cash was seized, James told reporters that those persons were no longer in the custody of the police.

In response to questions on the authority under which the department is conducting its seizures, James explained that the operations were being done under the Anti-Money Laundering legislation of 2009 and the amendments of 2015.

The Guyana Chronicle has been informed by persons in communities along the East Coast Demerara that the SOCU operations of last week were conducted at Vigilance and another gated community between Plaisance and Beterverwagting.
It was reported that the police showed up at the two locations, identified themselves, and proceeded to search the premises. They were said to have taken away large sums of money.