As the police continue their probe into Thursday’s startling discovery of $14M in counterfeit notes hidden in a metal barrel, an arrest is yet to be made.
Law enforcement officials told Stabroek News yesterday that they have reason to believe that the person who the barrel was addressed to might have fled the country or moved to another local address.
The discovery was made after Customs officials based at the John Fernandes Wharf made a decision to open the barrel which was shipped from London through the Harrison Shipping Company in May, 2006. The consignee who has been identified as a Supenaam, Essequibo Coast resident had failed to collect it.
A press statement from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) issued several hours after the find stated that the counterfeit money and other articles which were sent two years ago were discovered during routine duties at the city wharf.
The barrel, GRA said, was selected for inspection as it was identified as want- of-entry, meaning its time for clearance was long overdue.
The GRA said that as a criminal offence had been committed the police were called in and the money, 13,956 $1,000 notes and 183 $500 notes, was handed over to them.
The money was in numerous piles hidden among items in the barrel which included pens, towels and tools.
