PUBLIC Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, said the return of convicted drug lord, Roger Khan, to Guyana this weekend has been delayed as a result of the current hurricane season being experienced in Florida, USA.
“His homecoming was adjourned, and he will be treated the same way as all deportees,” Ramjattan said.
Police Commissioner Leslie James said, “we are waiting his return… I can’t say when, I understand because of the hurricane that we have had in the Caribbean recently his arrival was a bit delayed… Mr Khan, just like a normal person, will return under such circumstances… there is nothing special about Mr Khan.”
Khan was arrested in neighbouring Suriname in 2006 and then flown to Trinidad where US agents took control of him. He was taken to New York and charged.
Khan, who was jailed in October 2009 for up to 15 years, asked the US court earlier this year to release him early, based on new regulations.
Khan was sentenced to a total of 40 years’ imprisonment on three separate charges by US Judge, Dora Irizarry, in 2009 after she accepted the plea bargain agreement he had reached with prosecutors.
However, two of the sentences, 10 years for an illegal firearm possession charge, and 15 years for witness tampering, ran concurrently with the other 15-year jail term.
In addition to the jail time, Roger Khan had to undergo supervised release for five years although according to the judge, he is likely to be deported.
Khan was also accused of executing competitors in the drug trade.
He was deeply feared and owned several properties. He even built a housing scheme at Farm, East Bank Demerara.
Khan was considered to be the country’s most powerful drug trafficker.
He was said to have close ties to the then, People’s Progressive Party/Civic, with the late ex-Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj, acting as conduit for a “Phantom Squad”.
The squad was accused to murdering several criminals, competitors, and others.
Another minister reportedly facilitated the ordering of phone calls interception equipment.
In June 2006, Khan was arrested in Paramaribo with three of his bodyguards in a sting operation.