In a significant legal development, suspected international drug trafficker Shurlan Guppy has been denied permission to appeal his extradition to the United States by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The London-based court dismissed Guppy’s special leave application on December 18, with Lords Lloyd-Jones, Leggatt and Stephens unanimously concluding that the case failed to present any arguable point of law or matter of general public importance.
The ruling represents the latest judicial setback for Guppy, who faces eleven serious drug trafficking charges in the United States involving heroin and cocaine valued at approximately US$1 million. Court documents reveal that if convicted on all counts, Guppy potentially faces life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years.
Parallel to his Privy Council petition, Guppy has initiated constitutional proceedings in Trinidad and Tobago’s High Court, alleging rights violations during his extradition process. His legal team, led by attorney Mario Merritt, contends that despite governmental assurances to maintain the status quo during the 56-day appeal window, authorities proceeded with Guppy’s extradition to the United States while his UK application remained pending.
The constitutional motion, currently before Justice Jacqueline Wilson, seeks multiple remedies including financial compensation, vindicatory damages, and most notably, a court order mandating Guppy’s repatriation to Trinidad and Tobago. During November proceedings, state attorney Ian Roach maintained the extradition’s legality, arguing that the transfer occurred only after the expiration of the agreed-upon moratorium period.
According to investigations by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Philadelphia Division, Guppy allegedly orchestrated an international drug distribution network between 2017 and 2022. Federal indictments claim the operation utilized various communication platforms including cellular phones, FaceTime, and encrypted WhatsApp messaging to coordinate narcotics transactions across multiple jurisdictions.
Justice Wilson has adjourned the constitutional matter until January 26, 2026, awaiting further developments in the ongoing legal proceedings. Guppy remains in federal custody in the United States following his initial appearance in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on August 12.