Surinamese authorities have apprehended a 63-year-old businessman identified by initials J.P. in connection with an illicit cross-border agro-chemical smuggling operation. The arrest occurred Monday at a storage facility on Ramawat Soechitweg in western Suriname following actionable intelligence received by local law enforcement.
Police surveillance operations led to the discovery of ten containers of unauthorized herbicides concealed within a truck bed at the specified location. According to official statements from the Suriname Police Corps, the suspect confessed to transporting the regulated substances from neighboring Guyana utilizing unauthorized border crossing points known locally as ‘back track’ routes.
Investigations reveal the detained individual intended to distribute the contraband chemicals through his agricultural supply retail establishment. Law enforcement officials have impounded both the chemical shipments and the transportation vehicle used in the operation.
Following judicial review, the suspect remains in pretrial detention pending completion of the criminal investigation. This incident marks the second major smuggling case between the two South American nations within recent weeks, following last month’s interception of illegally transported fuel from Guyana destined for unauthorized sale in Suriname.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in border security coordination between Suriname and Guyana, particularly regarding regulated agricultural materials that require proper certification and taxation for cross-border commerce.