Several persons will face prosecution following a $70M bust by Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) personnel of a large quantity of smuggled liquor believed to be for “high-ranking” businessmen.
According to a press release from the GRA, the recent bust by the Enforcement and Intelligence Division of the Customs and Trade Administration, GRA, deemed the biggest operation in the history of Customs, will see several persons being prosecuted.
The bust involving the seizure of the MV Lady Kimberly, a modified fibre-glass trawler, a 14-feet aluminum boat equipped with a 15 hp engine, three enclosed canter trucks, a minibus and a car, saw more than 4000 cases of Heineken, 500 cases of assorted liquor, such as Grey Goose, Bailey’s, Tequila, Hennessey, Absolute Vodka (assorted), Black Label Whiskey, Johnny Walker Whiskey and more than 300 cases of Red Bull being among the items seized. The items are believed to be for “high-ranking” businessmen and were shipped from St Maarten.
GRA said that according to Customs Enforcement Officials, Gavin De Jong and Ramnarine Makardajh, the operation began during the early hours of February 14 following intelligence that there was a vessel containing smuggled goods moored at Rambarran’s wharf, Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara. Upon arrival of the officers, however, the vessel had already discharged some of the goods and made off in a bid to escape the enforcement officials. However, the enforcement team pursued the vessel and intercepted it while it was in hiding behind an island in the Demerara River.
The vessel was registered to Gopie, a known businessman, who produced evidence that the vessel was sold to Reginald Baichand, known as ‘Reggie’.
Following the apprehension of the vessel and the arrest of its crew, Captain Umbar Angad, and Delroy Samaroo, Shawn Ali and Madu, the vessel was taken to the John Fernandes Limited (JFL) wharf, where it was completely discharged in the presence of the captain and crew.
The captain signed a Notice of Seizure which was issued for the items on board, acknowledging that the amount was correct.
A search in the Land of Canaan area led to the discovery of the minibus and car which were linked to the illegal shipment, GRA added.
