分类： crime

Surinamese authorities have apprehended a Guyanese national in a targeted operation against cross-border criminal activity, following the discovery of contraband cigars during a vehicle inspection. The arrest occurred on Tuesday evening in the Nickerie district, underscoring heightened security measures along the transnational corridor.

The operation was conducted by a specialized police unit from the West Region, supported by the Regional Assistance Team (RBTW), as part of reinforced surveillance initiatives. At approximately 7:30 PM local time, officers intercepted a vehicle on Walidien Ishaakweg in the Corantijnpolder area for routine inspection.

Vehicle occupants included a 40-year-old Surinamese taxi driver, identified by initials HA, and two Guyanese passengers—a married couple referred to as SD (52) and AM (48). During the search, authorities located a sealed cardboard box on the rear seat, which was subsequently claimed by male passenger SD. Further examination revealed five wooden boxes containing cigars, all of which were promptly confiscated.

According to the Suriname Police Corps, SD claimed unawareness of the box’s contents, stating he had transported it from Guyana at the request of an unidentified third party. The suspect now faces potential charges under the Anti-Smuggling Act and the Economic Offences Act due to suspected violations.

Following consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, SD has been remanded in custody pending further investigation. The case has been transferred to the West Region Detective Department for comprehensive examination, while the other occupants were not detained.

A New York man has been sentenced to prison for masterminding an elaborate retail theft operation that targeted Home Depot stores across multiple counties. Manooj Heeralall, 54, of Baldwin, Long Island, received a sentence of 1-1/3 to four years imprisonment after pleading guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree on August 8, 2025.

According to Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, Heeralall orchestrated a sophisticated criminal enterprise between October 2021 and December 2023. The operation employed individuals to systematically steal high-value construction and electrical materials from dozens of Home Depot locations throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, and Brooklyn.

The stolen merchandise, including circuit breakers, light switches, circular saw blades, and specialized equipment, was subsequently collected by Heeralall who provided payment to the thieves. He then stored the illicit goods in his home and garage before arranging shipment to Guyana for international resale.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Heeralall’s residence on December 7, 2023, uncovering substantial evidence. Authorities seized nearly 1,000 circuit breakers valued at $15,025 from inside the home, along with hundreds of additional equipment pieces from the garage. Four garbage bins contained acrylic roof coating, rock spotlights, oscillating blades for grout, and light switch wall plates worth $9,576. The total value of confiscated items reached approximately $37,151.

In addition to prison time, Heeralall forfeited multiple assets including a 2004 Nissan vehicle, $2,640 in cash, and all items seized during the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin Santabarbara of the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, with cooperation from The Home Depot Investigations Organized Retail Crime Northern Division.

District Attorney Donnelly emphasized that such organized theft rings ‘strike at the heart of our local economy’ and undermine legitimate businesses. She commended the collaborative efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement partners in dismantling this criminal operation.

In a significant enforcement operation, Guyanese authorities have intercepted a substantial mercury shipment valued at approximately GY$18 million (US$86,000) near the Surinamese border. The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) announced the seizure on Monday, December 22, 2025, following the previous day’s interception at Crabwood Creek in the Corentyne region of Berbice.

According to CANU officials, the highly toxic substance was discovered concealed within a vehicle that had been stopped for inspection. “A comprehensive search of the intercepted vehicle revealed multiple parcels containing a strictly controlled and dangerous substance, subsequently identified as mercury,” the agency stated in its official release.

The apprehension led to the immediate arrest of the suspected smuggler, who was transported to CANU Headquarters for interrogation. Law enforcement authorities have indicated the individual remains in custody while actively cooperating with ongoing investigative procedures.

This interception occurs against the backdrop of Guyana’s intensified national campaign to virtually eliminate mercury usage in gold processing operations. The government initiative addresses grave environmental and public health concerns, as mercury contamination permeates ecosystems through atmospheric dispersion, water systems, marine life, and soil absorption, eventually entering the human food chain.

Following forensic examination and valuation, the confiscated mercury was transferred to the Ministry of Natural Resources for specialized handling and environmentally secure disposal procedures. The cross-border smuggling attempt highlights persistent challenges in regulating hazardous materials within the region’s mining industry.

A 23-year-old Brooklyn resident faces serious criminal charges for allegedly orchestrating an elaborate cryptocurrency phishing operation that defrauded nearly 100 investors of approximately $16 million. Ronald Spektor of Sheepshead Bay was indicted on 31 counts including first-degree grand larceny and money laundering following an extensive investigation by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Virtual Currency Unit.

The sophisticated social engineering scheme involved Spektor allegedly contacting Coinbase users while impersonating a company representative, warning them of imminent hacking threats to their digital assets. Victims were persuaded to transfer their cryptocurrency holdings to what they believed were secure wallets, which were actually under the defendant’s control. The operation spanned multiple states, with individual losses ranging from $38,750 to over $1 million.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez characterized the operation as “a digital robbery against scores of crypto investors across the country.” He emphasized that the defendant allegedly “tricked many unsuspecting people to transfer their life savings to wallets he controlled, blew their hard-earned money gambling online, and then bragged about his successful thefts.”

Investigators employed advanced blockchain analysis and digital forensics to trace the stolen assets through multiple cryptocurrency exchanges and mixing services. Evidence indicates substantial portions of the funds were funneled to online gambling platforms and various digital storefronts. During the investigation, authorities seized approximately $105,000 in cash and $400,000 in cryptocurrency, with efforts ongoing to recover additional assets.

The case revealed Spektor’s alleged use of encrypted messaging platforms including Telegram and Discord, where he operated under the handle “@lolimfeelingevil” and maintained a channel called “Blockchain enemies.” Digital evidence suggests he openly boasted about his criminal activities and recruited accomplices to assist with social engineering operations.

Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal expressed appreciation for the District Attorney’s efforts, noting the company’s collaboration in identifying the perpetrator, providing evidence, and assisting with fund recovery efforts. The case highlights growing concerns about cryptocurrency phishing schemes, which have become increasingly prevalent nationwide.

Authorities provided guidelines for cryptocurrency users to avoid similar scams: legitimate companies like Coinbase will never initiate contact requesting transfers to “safe wallets,” caller ID and sender names can be spoofed, and users should only contact companies through official support channels. Additionally, investors should be wary of urgency tactics and employ strong authentication measures.

In a significant law enforcement operation in the mining town of Linden, Guyana, authorities have uncovered an illegal arsenal and substantial cash reserves hidden within a local businessman’s residence. The Wednesday evening raid resulted in the seizure of two sophisticated firearms and a considerable ammunition stockpile.

Acting on intelligence, officers from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) discovered a Glock 19 9mm pistol alongside a customized Polymer 80 handgun, concealed beneath the flooring of a bedroom in the upper flat of the property. The search, conducted with the 30-year-old businessman present, yielded fifty-six rounds of 9mm ammunition alongside the weapons.

The operation escalated when additional搜查 uncovered significant financial assets hidden within a bedroom wardrobe. Police confiscated a combined total of GY$8.5 million in local and foreign currency, including GY$6,915,000 and US$7,445 in cash.

The suspect remains in police custody while forensic examinations and investigations continue. All seized items – including the firearms, ammunition, and currency – have been officially logged as evidence. This operation marks one of the most significant arms and cash interceptions in the region this year, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat illicit activities in the area.

In a significant crackdown on cross-border crime, Surinamese law enforcement authorities have intercepted a substantial shipment of smuggled fuel originating from neighboring Guyana. The operation culminated in the arrest of a gas station proprietor in the Nickerie district, located near the strategic Corentyne River border.

According to an official statement released by the Suriname Police Corps, the interception followed a meticulously planned surveillance operation targeting illicit cross-border activities. Officers initially identified a truck loaded with fuel whose distinctive coloration matched specifications used exclusively in Guyana. The vehicle was initially spotted parked at a local gas station on Ramadhar Rajaramweg in the Corantijnpolder district.

Police temporarily withdrew from the scene for preliminary assessments, but upon returning discovered the truck had been moved. Investigators immediately suspected the owner, identified as LR (36), had relocated the contraband to his secondary gas station facility in the Henar district. With coordinated assistance from Paradise police units, authorities successfully intercepted the vehicle on Ir. Mn. Ataoellahweg in Henar.

The subsequent inspection revealed four large square barrels containing approximately 4,000 liters (nearly 880 imperial gallons) of illegal fuel concealed on the truck bed. Both the gas station owner and his employee, MM (39), who were present inside the vehicle, were promptly arrested and transported to Paradise police station for processing. The truck and its illicit cargo were impounded as evidence in the ongoing investigation.

Following consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the primary suspect has been remanded in custody pending further investigation, while his employee has been released. The case has now been transferred to the West Region Detective Department for comprehensive investigation, highlighting the seriousness with which Surinamese authorities are treating cross-border fuel smuggling operations.

Authorities in Guyana are intensifying their search for two Venezuelans and one Colombian linked to a significant cocaine bust in Hydronie, Parika, East Bank Essequibo. The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) issued wanted bulletins for Camilo Morales Gonzalez, a Colombian national, and Venezuelans Richar Daniel Rodriguez Criollo and Hernan Daro Martinez. This development follows CANU’s discovery of 23.958 kilogrammes of cocaine at a residence in Hydronie, which led to the arrest of a Venezuelan man and two Guyanese women. The operation underscores the ongoing battle against narcotics trafficking in the region. Notably, the Colombian suspect, Yeison Andres Sanchez Vallejo, was previously sanctioned by the United States for drug-related offenses and was recently intercepted at a police checkpoint in Kurupukari. This case highlights the cross-border nature of drug trafficking and the collaborative efforts required to combat it.

In a significant law enforcement operation, Yeison Andres Sanchez Vallejo, a Colombian national sanctioned by the United States for alleged involvement in drug trafficking, was arrested in Guyana. The arrest occurred on November 4, 2025, during a routine security check at the Kurupukari police checkpoint. Vallejo was traveling on a bus bound for Lethem when authorities discovered he was carrying a passport marked with an “RLL” (Refused Leave to Land) immigration stamp. Further investigations confirmed his inclusion on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list for narcotics-related activities. Vallejo is currently in police custody, assisting with ongoing investigations. This arrest is part of a broader crackdown on drug trafficking networks in the region. Notably, the OFAC sanctions also targeted other individuals, including a senior Guyanese police officer, Himnauth Sawh, who was implicated in a 2024 operation that uncovered 4.4 tonnes of cocaine near an illegal airstrip in Mabaruma. Sawh remains on leave pending further inquiries. The arrest underscores the collaborative efforts between international and local law enforcement agencies to combat transnational drug trafficking.