SHAWN Neblett, a former policeman who was wanted in the United States for a series of drug-related offences, has been extradited to that country, and will soon appear in a federal court there.

Neblett, also known as ‘Shaun Wyatt’ or ‘Dapper’, of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, had tried to fight the extradition following his arrest by local authorities at Moleson Creek, on the Corentyne River. The arrest occurred on May 29, 2019 as he was attempting to flee to neighbouring Suriname.

The US Government had made an application for his extradition through the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, presiding at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, subsequently commenced extradition proceedings.

Two weeks ago, Magistrate McGusty granted an Order for Neblett to be extradited.
The Guyana Chronicle understands that federal officers from the United States on Friday collected Neblett from the Lusignan Prison.

Once on US soil, Neblett will be tried in a federal court for conspiracy to import cocaine, importation of cocaine, and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.
On June 10, 2016, an arrest warrant was issued in the US for his arrest. However, by then, he had already fled to Guyana.

According to the indictment, between August and September 2015, in the Eastern District of New York, Neblett conspired to smuggle cocaine from Guyana to the US. It is alleged that he arranged for the courier in Guyana to smuggle the cocaine for a payment of $US8,000.

It is alleged that he’d met with the courier in Guyana, and packed the person’s suitcase with seven pairs of cocaine-filled shoes. He had allegedly given the courier an advance of $US300 to rent a hotel room upon his arrival at the JFK International Airport in New York.

On August 28, 2015, the courier flew to New York, and was arrested on arrival. In his possession was 1.45 kilogrammes of cocaine. The courier, when held by law enforcement officers in New York, confessed to the crime, and assisted them with their investigation.

The courier, under the guidance of law enforcement officials, called Neblett regarding the pick-up of the cocaine, but he (Neblett) sent another individual to collect the drugs. That individual was later arrested with US$8,000 in his possession.