Four Berbice-based police officers are under close arrest and a senior rank has been transferred to police headquarters in Georgetown after they were implicated in the payment $6 million in exchange for the release of a large quantity of cocaine.
‘B’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, yesterday confirmed that though the cocaine is yet to be found, police have contacted and collected statements from the persons who were transporting the drugs when the vehicle was stopped by ranks.
The alleged misconduct occurred almost two weeks ago but it was only yesterday that the police issued its first statement on the matter.
The release said that the police’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating an alleged corrupt transaction involving a number of police ranks following the seizure of a quantity of cocaine from a motor vehicle along the Corentyne, Berbice, on September 10.
“An Assistant Superintendent of Police has been transferred from the Division to Police Headquarters, and a Subordinate Officer and three Constables are under close arrest as the investigations continue,” the short statement said.
Watts, in an invited comment, told Stabroek News that the ranks are under close arrest as part of an investigation into an allegation that they intercepted a quantity of cocaine from a Route 63 minibus which had three occupants but did not take the drugs to the police station. Asked how much cocaine was involved, he said that the amount was unknown as it was not in police possession.
Stabroek News was later informed by sources that the bus was filled with cocaine and it was worth tens of millions of dollars. The vehicle was intercepted on the Whim Public Road.
The subordinate officer and the constables made up a police patrol that intercepted the vehicle allegedly acting on information received. A search was conducted and the drugs were found. Reports from persons in Berbice are that the civilians involved are connected to a known drug lord.
Sources said the transport of drugs by this vehicle is a regular occurrence and that the drugs had arrived from Suriname. Guyana is a transshipment point for drugs given the country’s porous borders. Transporting drugs and other contraband across the Corentyne River, particularly at night, is a “piece of cake,” sources said, as there are no police officers monitoring the numerous backtrack routes.
Stabroek News was made to understand that after the interception, the ranks struck a deal with the persons in the bus for a monetary payment to be made in exchange for the bust to go unreported. The money was later handed over and split up among the ranks one of whom is a woman.
Asked how police became aware of the ranks’ unprofessional conduct, the source said persons started to “talk” and as a result detectives made contact with the three persons who were in the alleged cocaine laden vehicle; they provided statements on what had transpired. These persons, it would appear, are not in police custody.
Meanwhile, Watts confirmed that none of the officers implicated were found with large amounts of money which could possibly be part of the $6 million, nor have any of them ever been implicated in wrongdoings of this nature before. He expressed his concern at what had transpired.
The senior officer who was transferred, this newspaper was told, was implicated because he had knowledge of the corrupt transaction but chose to ignore it.
Watts told this newspaper that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is expected to give legal advice in the matter by Monday.
“We are very concerned. This is such a serious matter… Policemen who are supposed to be professional have compromised the integrity of the Guyana Police Force…,” Watts told this newspaper.
He spoke of this happening at a time when the police are working hard to build public trust and said that these occurrences do not augur well for the force’s image.
