分类： crime

In a significant narcotics interdiction operation, Guyana’s Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) apprehended four individuals on Sunday, January 18, 2026, seizing approximately 154 pounds of cocaine with an estimated European street value of €2.1 million (US$2.4 million). The bust occurred near Parika, East Bank Essequibo, marking a substantial blow to international drug trafficking networks.

According to CANU officials, the detained suspects include a Guyanese national residing in Venezuela and a young entrepreneur from the Essequibo Coast region. The illicit substance was intercepted while being transported by vehicle, with investigators indicating the drugs were destined for European markets. All four individuals were promptly transferred to CANU headquarters for interrogation and processing.

This successful operation emerges against a backdrop of heightened narcotics surveillance in the Caribbean-European corridor. Recent weeks have witnessed Dutch law enforcement agencies in the Netherlands intercepting multiple cocaine shipments originating from Suriname. Notably, on January 12, Dutch police and customs authorities confiscated 319 kilograms of cocaine concealed within a container of deep-frozen fish, highlighting sophisticated smuggling methodologies employed by transnational criminal organizations.

The Parika seizure demonstrates Guyana’s intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking through enhanced interagency cooperation and intelligence-driven operations. While specific details regarding the investigation remain confidential, authorities emphasize their commitment to disrupting supply chains that exploit Guyana’s transportation infrastructure for international narcotics distribution.

In a significant law enforcement operation, Guyanese authorities have dismantled an illicit security operation, arresting four individuals including the company owner and seizing eight unlicensed firearms. The intelligence-driven raids, conducted on January 13, 2026, targeted multiple locations including supermarkets and shopping malls across Greater Georgetown and East Coast Demerara.

The Guyana Police Force revealed that security guards employed by a private security service were found in possession of weapons without proper authorization during their duties. Subsequent investigations led officers to the service’s 40-year-old owner from Industry, East Coast Demerara, whose vehicle search yielded five airsoft firearms—three pistols and two rifles—all lacking required permits.

Notable incidents included a 31-year-old Sophia guard possessing an airsoft rifle at a supermarket post, a 34-year-old ‘B’ Field Sophia guard armed with a modified 12-gauge shotgun with filed-off serial number containing live ammunition, and a 38-year-old Cummings Lodge guard who confirmed his issued airsoft rifle was provided at duty commencement. All firearms and ammunition have been processed as evidence while suspects remain in custody assisting with ongoing investigations.

A 28-year-old unemployed resident of Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara, has been ordered to remain in custody after entering a not guilty plea to multiple firearm-related charges. Kevin Adams appeared remotely before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Monday, December 29, 2025.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Saturday, December 28, at the Retrieve Hard Court in Mackenzie, Linden. According to police reports, officers stationed at the venue witnessed the alleged discharge of a firearm and subsequently apprehended Adams.

Law enforcement officials conducted a search that yielded one .32 Taurus pistol equipped with a magazine and ten live .32 caliber rounds in Adams’ possession. Authorities confirmed that despite the discharge of the weapon, no injuries resulted from the incident.

Adams faces three distinct charges: unlawful possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without authorization, and discharging a loaded firearm within 100 yards of a public thoroughfare. The defendant maintained his innocence on all counts during the court proceedings.

Magistrate Liverpool has scheduled the next hearing for January 13, 2026, at which time the case will continue through the judicial system. Adams will remain incarcerated until that date as the legal process moves forward.

A prominent cellular phone retailer in Guyana has been released on bail after facing serious firearms-related charges. Amar Avinash Persaud, a 37-year-old entrepreneur from Bladenhall North, East Coast Demerara, was granted GY$500,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.

The case originated from Persaud’s arrest on December 21, 2025, when operatives from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) apprehended him on Sherriff Street in Georgetown. Law enforcement officials discovered an AK-47 assault rifle, corresponding ammunition, and a pistol in his possession during the operation.

James Singh, Director of CANU, confirmed that following the initial detention by anti-narcotics agents, Persaud was formally transferred to regular police custody for processing. The defendant, who operates a mobile phone retail business, now faces multiple counts of illegal weapons possession under Guyana’s firearms legislation.

The judicial decision to grant bail suggests the court’s preliminary assessment of the case circumstances, though the matter remains active within Guyana’s legal system. The case has drawn significant attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the defendant’s established business background in the community.

Legal experts note that while bail has been granted, the prosecution maintains the authority to pursue full legal proceedings against the accused. The case continues to develop as both sides prepare their arguments for subsequent court appearances.

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.