FOLLOWING the discovery of the self-propelled semi-submersible vessel (SPSS) in Region 1 (Barima-Waini) on August 14, 2014 by local authorities, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday night commended the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces, the Coast Guard and the Air Corps.

A press statement stated that the SPSS was found in a creek along the Waini River in the North West District.
It noted that it is the first time an SPSS was found in Guyana. The SPSS was built to transship tons of narcotics/contrabands smuggled into the country, possibly for onward movement through the northwest coast onto the trans-Atlantic route.

The release stated that the ministry applauded the work of the security operatives and reaffirmed its commitment to regional and international cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect in the fight against the world drug problem.

However, after the find, CANU in a press release last week said that the craft found in Region 1 was blue and was already fitted with a diesel engine and steering wheel, navigation and other machinery to deem it serviceable. However, no contraband was onboard the SPSS.
During a search of one of the creeks branching off from the Waini, the vessel was discovered about two miles in, along with a camp consisting of three structures – accommodation, workshop area and generator. The accommodation had the capacity to accommodate about 12 persons.
The vessel is the latest innovation in the decades-old drug war and President Donald Ramotar announced during a press briefing last week that agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will help local sleuths probe the discovery, which presents one of the biggest challenges to this country in its counternarcotics efforts.
With the use of these craft on the rise, US officials have said that they fear that the trafficking networks are moving away from so-called fast boats, the high-powered fishing and leisure boats that can carry about a tonne of cocaine and are easier to spot, to semi-submersible and fully submersible vessels that can surreptitiously carry many more tonnes of drugs, which are unloaded in shallow waters or transported to shore by small boats.
Head of CANU, James Singh giving an update on the self-propelled semi-submersible vessel (SPSS) which was found in Region 1 (Barima-Waini) on August 15 yesterday said that the vessel was seized and experts from overseas have arrived here and are carrying out a probe.

He said forensics checks were made and the vessel will be moved to an area that is more secure where further examinations can be done since its present location isn’t fitting for a proper probe given the account of the safety and security of persons there.

Singh stated that forensics tests will determine the design as it relates to what was found in other countries like the engine, the shape, capacity etc, giving them a better understanding rather than saying we found a SPSS, we can now say the vessel is capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean and so forth.

He disclosed that the SPSS was fully constructed here in Guyana and it was ready to move from its location to collect a quantity of contraband for another location and operations are ongoing and more than five persons are being questioned since it is happening out of town, too much information cannot be divulged.

Singh said, “We are trying to determine who built it, where they came from and other basic things to trace its link here.”

Responding to questions, Singh pointed out that the fact that they found the vessel doesn’t indicate that we are not doing enough and the vessel was fully outfitted and a camp was also found there and in more developed countries they also have found such a vessel.

He told reporters that the Government remains committed in strengthening the relevant agencies to fulfil its mandate and their operations are based on information gathering and intelligence.

Singh stated that the fact that they came upon the vessel indicates they are working with the resources at their disposal and are also utilising inter-agency collaboration for the desired achievement.