RETIRED Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Bruce Lovell, will lead the investigations into allegations made against agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), President David Granger has announced.

Self-confessed Guyanese drug lord Barry Dataram, currently facing trial on charges of being in possession of narcotics, had made damning allegations against CANU agents, contending that they are involved in the narco trade.

Dataram made the revelations during an interview on HGPTV Channel 67’s Nightly News. “CANU them is the most corrupted, rogue security force in this country,” he charged, also claiming: “They are the biggest drug dealer this country has. The same drug that they seize, half of it goes back on the street.”

Dataram reportedly said that he decided to go public with this information after CANU officers conducted a raid on his nephew’s house and removed $13 million, but could account for only $10 million.

CANU Head James Singh had rushed to deny the allegations, saying Dataram was trying to distract attention from the proceedings of the court and bring the operations of the unit and its members into disrepute.

The head of CANU also contended that when persons make claims such as the one that Dataram has made, it means that they could have several objectives.

Dataram’s allegations against CANU were serious enough to persuade President David Granger to commit to establishing a body to investigate the allegations.
Staying true to his words, on Friday last, during his weekly television show, The Public Interest, the Head of State revealed that Brigadier Bruce Lovell has been identified to lead the investigation as a lone commissioner.

The President was keen to note that Lovell would not be investigating the whole of CANU, but only the allegations made by Dataram.

Terms of Reference for the Inquiry having already been approved, President Granger said the investigation is expected to begin by April 1st.

Dataram was recently charged in a 225-pound cocaine trafficking case, and is also wanted by authorities for drug trafficking in the US.

Singh has called for Dataram to make the same confessions under oath during his trial.

(Ravin Singh)