— linked to US$71.7M drug bust in February

A COMMISSION, appointed by President David Granger, will investigate the circumstances

surrounding the entry, interception, detention and subsequent release of a vessel linked to the US$71.7M drug bust in February.
On Friday, the Chairman, Brigadier (retired) Bruce Lovell, and members, Assistant Commissioner of Police (retired), Winston Cosbert and Christine Bailey were sworn in by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates Court, thereby bringing the Commission of Inquiry into effect.

The unnamed private maritime vessel was spotted in Guyana’s waters off the Corentyne coast moving north between February 11 to 14, 2017. While in the vicinity of Shell Beach, it was intercepted by local authorities, and brought into the Waini River and searched.
Though narcotics were not found on the vessel, which was subsequently released, it is suspected that the vessel is linked to a massive high-seas drug bust, which ensnared four Guyanese nationals and netted cocaine worth US$71.7M, 70 nautical miles north of Suriname in international waters.

It is believed that this vessel had transferred the large cocaine shipment to the mother vessel which was subsequently seized by the U.S. authorities and found to be carrying over four tonnes of cocaine.
The inquiry is expected to unravel the facts supporting the unnamed maritime vessel. Lovell told the Guyana Chronicle that on Monday the commission will meet and map out its strategy. Lovell and his team have less than 12 days to submit their findings and recommendations to President Granger.

According to the terms of reference, the commission will investigate the circumstances under which the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) received information that the vessel had entered Guyana, intercepted, detained and searched.
Additionally, the commission will try to ascertain what led to the release of the vessel, and whether the operation was approved by an authority in Guyana.
The legality of the operation will also come into question.

TIMELY PASSAGE OF INFORMATION
“The inquiry will investigate…whether there was timely passage of information to the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Minister of Public Security or the Minister of State, and whether such passage of information was adequate,” a section of the ToR stated.
The ownership of the vessel, its capacity, capabilities and the identities of all persons who were on board at the time of the operation will also be placed under the microscope.
The commission will also determine whether CANU and the law-enforcement agencies of Guyana acted in a manner consistent with their security responsibilities and whether there was any narcotic or prohibited substance on the vessel immediately before it was intercepted.

In its menu of recommendations, the commission is expected to recommend appropriate disciplinary action for any person or persons, if any, had been found to act in contradiction to the laws governing Guyana.
However, before drawing its conclusion, Lovell and team are mandated to interview all persons, examine available documentation and consider the views of all stakeholders deemed relevant.
The inquiry will be conducted at the Department of the Public Service, Ministry of the Presidency, in full view of the public. The report, findings and recommendations are expected to be submitted on or before April 12, 2017, to President Granger.

SENT ON LEAVE
CANU’s Head James Singh was sent on leave a day after the multi-million dollar drug bust. It is believed that the outcome of this inquiry will determine his future with respect to CANU. Major-General (retired Michael Atherly) has since taken full command of the operations of CANU. Since assuming office, the coalition Government has heightened and intensified efforts to counter narcotics trafficking on land, by air and at sea.
Coastal aerial surveillance and mounted branch border patrols have been reactivated and are done on a regular and continual basis.

The MV Tamakay, a floating police station, is now permanently stationed at the mouth of the Waini River. It was in the Waini River some years ago that a suspected cocaine semi-submersible vessel was uncovered. In 2016, an abandoned aircraft suspected of transporting narcotics was uncovered in the Rupununi village of Yupukari.