THE United States of America has requested the extradition of former member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Shawn Neblett, to face drug trafficking charges over there.

The request comes weeks after another Guyanese was successfully extradited to the US for murder. Reports are that Washington has several other requests lined up and was buoyed by the successful extradition of Troy Anthony Thomas, who was wanted in the United States for murder.

Neblett, 34 of Community Lane, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is wanted in the US in connection to a cocaine bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri on January 24, 2017.  The accused, after being on the run, was nabbed by police at Moleson Creek Corentyne River, while attempting to flee to Suriname.

He was arrested and placed before Principal Magistrate, Faith McGusty, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court late Tuesday afternoon, where local extradition proceedings got underway. A representative of the US Government, Stacy Gooding, explained that the US has already filed the extradition with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP.)  Gooding requested that Neblett be remanded for the extradition process to begin.

In court, Neblett explained that he is unaware of the charges he is allegedly facing in the US, while also denying attempting to flee the jurisdiction to Suriname. According to the former policeman, he was travelling to Suriname legally and did not know that he was blacklisted.

Magistrate McGusty remanded Neblett and adjourned the matter until June 6, 2019, for a report on the extradition. According to reports, Neblett is wanted in connection to the almost $3M cocaine bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

On January 24, 2017, a suitcase was found with four packets of cocaine hidden inside.
A little over a week ago, Thomas, who was wanted in the United States for murder, was extradited to that country and faced a federal court abroad.

Thomas, of 32nd Street, South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S.A., had been hiding out in Guyana for a number of years. Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in December ordered that he be extradited to face a charge of murder in that country back in 2011. The US Department of Justice had requested Thomas be extradited there to stand trial on three criminal charges he allegedly committed in the State of New York.