No contact has been made with self-confessed drug trafficker Barry Dataram with respect to testifying before a Board of Inquiry (BoI) set up to investigate his claims that the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) is involved in the drug trade and corruption, sources say.
Sources close to the man told this newspaper yesterday that Dataram wants to speak only about instances involving CANU, but is afraid that he may be asked things outside of that. As such he is a little skeptical of appearing before the BoI if called.
According to the sources, it is advisable that he refrains from testifying as the general belief now is that “no good will come out of it.”
It was also pointed out to this newspaper that it is indeed strange that Dataram, who is one of the prime subjects of the matter, is yet to be contacted weeks after the BoI was to convene. This newspaper was told that Dataram has not provided any written information on the allegations he made to anyone connected to the BoI or CANU.
The BoI, which is headed by retired Brigadier Bruce Lovell, was scheduled to start its work on April 1.
This newspaper was told recently that Lovell is currently out of the country and was scheduled to return shortly, at which time the inquiry will begin. It is unclear if he has since returned.
Lovell when contacted last month about his appointment and the Terms of Reference (ToR), referred all questions to the Ministry of Presidency. This newspaper has been unsuccessful in acquiring the information being sought with respect to the inquiry.
It is unclear whether the ToR have been finalised.
Dataram, during an interview with HGPTV Channel 67’s Nightly News that was aired on February 29, accused a high ranking CANU official of being involved in the drug trade and added that the rank would take as much as $10 million to allow cocaine to leave the country.
He also said that drug lords would pay $5 million before the shipment and the remainder afterward.
Dataram also alleged that the majority of the drugs seized by CANU returns to the streets. He said that he knew of this because of his involvement and his friends’ involvement in the trade.
“I know what is going on in the streets… I know what is going on in CANU… them is the enemies and they have to know that just like how they got things on me I get things on them,” he said.
