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.
Well, well, well, not proud to be a Guyanese.
Now I know where all those big fancy homes and fancy cars are coming from!!!!!!!
Well get your Canadian citizenship and then we’ll see if you’re treated any differently.
I DON’T CARE WHICH COUNTRY IS IN DEMAND, SINCE THERE’S A DEMAND, CLOSE ALL SHIPMENTS LEAVING GUYANA, AND I”M NOT BLOWING HOT AIR, all those who r against closing down shipments leaving Guyana, are users also, since they are using pepper sauce, fish glue, soaked materials, lumber etc: for drug shipments, “Close all shipments leaving Guyana,” can’t anyone see,? no matter how, these scums, finds other avenues to ship their poisons.
When all shipments of all needed items are ceased, the drug lords would have to get wings and fly them themselves to other countries, sounds impossible or foolish,? then what other method/s should be used to eradication this cancerous growth.
Too much foolish talk, finger pointing and name blaming has been going around, protect the borders, fire those involved, lock them in jail, take away bank accounts, homes and cars from all those who cannot account for their riches.
No one wants to do the right, because they r all involved, Guyana’s economy now is being built by drug trades, the big boys r involved, the small fishes r mules and lookouts, infestation has become the norm, Government sits on their behind, knows all the guilty culprits and has not acted from the inception.
The president visits other countries to talk junk, he should have one of his main topics to be “Eradication of drugs,” entering and leaving Guyana.
The President, Mr. Corbin, Mr. Roohee and all other in the Government needs to cease back stabbing, pointing fingers, join together as one people, kill the drug trades in Guyana, other Countries would stop treating all Guyanese citizens with disrespect.
Guyanese born, American Citizens are going through shame, and being disrespected because of these constant drug shipments, although Guyana is not the only country with a drug problem, we r becoming the eye pass.
yes cheryl big up baby girl you are sooo right squeeze the
businessmen in guyana shut down all exports out of guyana to europe and north america.. respect cheryl
OMG!!!what a big catch for the xmas hoilday.as the saying goes”i work very very hard for my money”!!!!.not good at all for we the guyanese people,i will listen out for more details,because there is more to come.
Well I guess there will be a rise in execution-style murders. After all, someone’s gotta pay for the big losses. Keep your heads down, my friends. And pray.
Desi
u on to something there…big loss…nuff heads will have to roll…this is not childs game for these people………….
it will be murda here there every where soon…dats a lot of dough gone down de drains……
It’s a shame. When Guyanese travel they will be watched.
be proud and travel.. if you have nothing to hide then noting to fear
SN….Do you guys have something to hide, or you just plain scared?
Why are you not publishing my comments? Remember, that true democracy starts with a free press. If you are not free to publish, then the country is not free.
Wholesale bribery and officials paid off from top to bottom in this case.
i guess the canu will have to undergo another lie detector test, to see who is lying.i say start from the head of customs down to the guard.every day is something new about guyana, living abroad and hearing all these things about guyana makes u keep looking over ur shoulder, to see if folks are pointing fingers at u, even though ur innocent law abiding citizen. greed and coveteouness is order of the day.
THOSE CANU OFFICERS THAT WERE SENT HOME HAD THE BEST RECORDS OF THE HISTORY OF THE DEPT OF CANU. THE INNOCENT ALWAYS PAY FOR THE GUILTY.ITS A GOOD THING THAT POLITICS DONT RUN THE WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD.WHO WILL BELT THE CAT?
The PPP/C has a history of victimising those of immaculate character simply because they cannot sya to those individuals, “You did it too.” So, as long as all are dirty & involved in one way or another, everything’s fine. They will continue to rid the law enforcement of “clean” personnel because the clean will not satisfy their whims & fancies. On the other hand, if you’re dirty you will always want to be protected/covered so you will always do what the bossman says. That’s the way of the devil.
I have now returned after a brief spell in another country and cannot believe what I have read about the drug find here and the USVI.
Since I agree with many of the blogs, and also disagree with others,I will play the devil’s advocate and open for discussion the following:
- the PNC government banned many thing to which we had become
accustomed, but which were not essential to a stable diet, from
entering the country
- the PPP is now advocating and apparently facilitating the export of any and
everything, including those things which some may deem necessary to
Guyana’s GDP but which are not legal for use in many of the
countries to which these exports are being shipped
Your challenge is to determine and discuss which is the worst scenario for Guyana and the Guyanese people as a whole.