US DEA tipped off by Canada
A second major drug shipment is being traced back to Guyana after US federal agents on Wednesday seized 100 kilos of cocaine found inside pepper sauce cartons aboard a ship in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
A day after announcing one of the largest drug busts in Ontario’s history, Durham police working with the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) tipped off the U.S Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to the second shipment, which was stopped in St Croix.
Like in the first shipment, the drugs were hidden in cardboard dividers in 139 boxes of food-seasoning products that were destined for Caribbean International Food Distributors, based in Etobicoke.
The drugs were found after DEA agents raided the ship. Canadian law enforcement officials say more arrests are likely.
According to the Canadian press, the busts are part of a major anti-narcotics initiative dubbed “Project Falcon,” which sought to identify the sources of the criminal network that transported cocaine to street gang members and drug abusers in the Durham region.
On December 8, officers found 276 kilos of high-quality cocaine at the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick, aboard a ship, Tropic Canada. With Wednesday’s net, the total amount of cocaine seized as a result of the investigation is 376 kilos, with an estimated street value of $54.5 million.
According to the Toronto Star, the drugs were traced back to Guyana, from where the padded freight containers shipped out. The Star reported investigators as saying that the vessel in New Brunswick was confirmed to have been carrying 77-79 per cent pure cocaine, which was found inside boxes of hot sauce. They removed all but two kilos of the cocaine and performed a controlled delivery of the container to its original destination in Etobicoke. It was received by the owner of the company, Mahendrapaul Doodnauth, who unloaded the boxes at a rented storage facility on Rexdale Boulevard in Toronto. As a result, Doodnauth, of Toronto, was charged with importing cocaine, conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
On Wednesday, acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene told Stabroek News that while the local authorities are yet to contact Canada, they had identified a local suspect in connection with the first bust. He said while no arrest has been made, the police are looking for the man. When asked how the cocaine-laden cartons of pepper sauce could have left these shores when checks had to be made, he directed this newspaper to the Customs Anti- Narcotics Unit (CANU), with whom the police are collaborating. CANU officials were unavailable for comment.
Reports were that the shipment left Guyana and arrived in the country on board the Tropic Canada in Saint John, New Brunswick on Decem-ber 8. The freighter reportedly regularly transports goods between Saint John and the Caribbean.
Stabroek News contacted the Light House, which has a record of all ships entering and leaving Port Georgetown, and was told that the Tropic Canada never entered these waters.
However, knowledgeable persons in the shipping industry say that the shipment could have left aboard another ship, probably a smaller vessel, and then transferred to the Tropic Canada via another Caribbean country. If Tropic Canada had entered this country the Light House would have had a record of it. Greene confirmed that the shipment left Guyana but would not say by what means.
The major interceptions in Canada and the USVI would be seen as a major embarrassment for Guyana amid international concerns that it was not doing enough to stem the drug trade.
There is a “NEED” for the DEA to set-up an office
in Guyana, the people that is running CANU is not doing
what they are paid to do., the Guyana Government must
have the DEA in the country before the end of 2009.
Yes Mr. West Bank….We do not need the stinking DEA (Drug Enabling Americans) in GT.
CANU is a symptom of a bigger virus that is attacking GT and eating away at her core. It is called “Corruption”
So keep the DEA in the United Snakes of Amurikkka.
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Never in GT….not a blade of grass for GT is NO…I repeat NO Launching pad for their Venezuelan wars and death squads. Tek a good look at the DEA and Afghanistan!!!!
-Taliban in powa = no coke
=DEA in Afghanistan = Lots and Lots of coke….
Snort your amurikkkan coke and leave GT alone.
“NOT A BLADE O’ GRASS
Lock up these criminal enablers with their get rich schemes to funnel drugs to SICK population centers.
“Keep it “LIT”
POLITICS MEANS…. POLY… LATIN FOR MANY AND TICS.. BLOOD SUCKING PEST ON THE PEOPLE. SO WE HAVE …MANYBLOOD SUCKING PESTS ON THE PEOPLE—POLITICIANS.
…. WHY ????? in this second report which is now taking on a calculated effort by those whose minds will not allow them to see their folly ,,, is there no mention of the maggot who they suspect and is looking for ??????????????????????????????????? !
Another “colossal” embarrassment for the people of GY! The time for this government to stop burying its head in the sand has run its course. The head of CANU needs to be fired. His American visa should be revoked (if he has one). His bank account and personal business dealings investigated. Have an independent outside agency conduct random polygraph screening of his entire staff. Fire those found to be deceptive. Invoke the money laundering laws and start seizing assets.
It will never be done. As expected, no one here will be arrested in connection with this bust. There are no drug lords, only embattled businessmen.
Whose assets would ever be seized in guyana for criminal doings.Top the big fishes in high offices and their friends.
Guyana is always in the news for negative and shameful events.
This regime could not be bothered with the pharma-trafficanters making the country out to be the major shipping hub for illicit substances.
Knowing friends in higher echelons are benefits unknown to the average citizen.
Guyana has fully earned the title of popular trafficanters hub.
I said it, flush Police Headquarters of all the get rich quick Officers. Do a make over of the Police Force at the top. I say the same for Customs. Try something new like rotating and monitoring customs officers. The head of Customs need to return to his old job, Guyanese People should demand that.
Get rich quick is the new high in Guyana and Guyanese should beware of this high, its dangerous.
With all said when these pushers and dealers finish there time in Canada. They will return to Guyana to reap and rape it of it’s value system. What will become of Guyana? This country only have 750,000 people, one in nine have HIV/AIDS, TB no numbers, Domestic Violence out of control, homeless children on the rise, the prison is over flowing with young criminals. What will become of Guyana and its children?
The same as in other countries, also right where you presently reside there’s a big problem if we can fix that, then there’s hope for guyana.
Revolution begins at home.
Just look at Greece!!!!!
I say “Time for a regime change” Call de elections already!!!!
“Keep it “LIT”
Yarrow.Your answer has to do with American Demoracy.
Guyanese need to divert from the American life style,
or suffer the same consequences as the Americans are now experiencing for their lawless and corrupt,ungodly way of living.
Guyana is following in the american way of Democratic lifestyle.
So they are apt to expetrience the same problems and consequences.It’s not only Guyana.It’s now become a global problem of Lawlessness,greed,and Corruption.It’s a Cancer.
Nuff Said.
The Government of Guyana is certainly not doing enough to stem the ongoing drug trade. Persons getting overnight should be investigated. These are the people Kurshid Sattaur should go behind and not the internet cafes. These are the people who building big buildings, driving the most expensive vehicles, abusing young women to the max and are seen in the company senior law enforcement personels and Government officials.
Well said my sister, well said
Tell me, man, how on earth all this stuff is leaving Guyanan and the authorities there can’t or won’t stop it?
Yet the government gave the army a huge end-of-year bonus! For what????
The army should have been protecting our borders from drugs and guns smuggling; instead it is being used to hunt and gun down criminals – a police job!
Well another bust in the usvi,and it’s traced back to guyana what an embarassement to guyana and it’s citizens, when we have so-called businessmen who hide their nefarious activites under the umbrella of legitimate business to cover their illegal business it say volumes to what is happening to guyanese society. Let me not think for one minute that their’s going to be a total elimination of these illegal drugs i would be fooling myself to think this will happen, as long theirs a demand for the drugs, market will always be available for it, so until we fix the problems in the countries where the demands are great we would alway have a drug problems and the suppliers will go to any lenght to make sure it’s available.
Amen-ra, these “business men” are going to suffer a great deal because of the global economic recession.
why are these ppl just want to give guyana such a bad name i have alot of friends at jfk whom are customs officer im ashame to look at them.i dont think hell is worst than guyana.
Man, Cn$54.5 million…jeees, that could do miracles for me, but, no thank you. This ring is huge, but at least we have the Canadians and the USDEA on the investigation.