FOUR individuals, including two American citizens, have been charged with money laundering in connection to a gold smuggling ring uncovered at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
Saffee Ahmad, also known as ‘Chillo’, 58; Shameena Ahmad, 52; Ashiana Salamalay, 33, all of 38 Roraima Scheme, Versailles, West Bank Demerara (WBD); and Ian Jacobis, 44, of 749 Plantation Best, West Coast Demerara (WCD), are facing separate charges under Section 3(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act Cap 10:11.

The accused appeared Friday at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, who read the charges to them. They were not required to enter pleas.
Bail was set at $500,000 for each of them, with the condition that Saffee Ahmad must report to the Special Organissed Crime Unit (SOCU) headquarters on the last Friday of every month.
The cases have been adjourned until July 30, 2024.

On June 3, 2024, customs officers from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) seized several pieces of gold jewelry from Shameena Ahmad, Ashiana Salamalay, and Ian Jacobis at CJIA.
The trio was attempting to board an American Airlines flight to New York with approximately 240 ounces of nearly pure (raw) gold, disguised as silver-plated jewellery, without the necessary permits or customs declarations. The gold, valued at over US$560,000 or approximately GY$117,001,604, was confiscated. The subsequent investigation by SOCU revealed the extent of the smuggling operation and led to the money laundering charges against the four suspects.

Last month, the quartet was charged with exporting gold without a licence and were each ordered to post bail in the sum of $600,000.
Saffee Ahmad is accused of aiding and abetting one of the accused. A parallel money laundering investigation was conducted by SOCU, resulting in the four individuals being charged.