The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) has denied an accusation that its ranks were not wearing CANU insignia during an operation in Dazzell Housing Scheme on March 29.
According to attorney Eusi Anderson his client Rawle Farrell was forced to flee for his life after members of the Unit discharged no less than five shots in his direction when they visited his home at about 3 pm on the day in question. The men he alleged bore no identifying marks and did not identify themselves to the occupants of the Dazzell Housing Scheme property.
“Upon seeing a number of unidentified armed men exiting an unmarked vehicle with guns exposed and pointing…Farrell fled for his life. Ranks of CANU started firing shots at …Farrell who was unarmed and fleeing the scene for his life. No less than five shots were fired at him,” the statement from Anderson claimed.
He maintains that his client denies knowledge or possession of any illegal substance at the premises and engaged in a human reaction in the face of several men in civilian clothes pointing guns in his direction.
CANU Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford has however denied that the ranks failed to identify themselves.
In a statement last evening, Sandiford said that the officers were “fully clad in CANU tactical gear and insignia”.
The prosecutor explained that the ranks acting on acting on information went to the suspect’s home at Sixth Street Dazzell Housing Scheme and upon their arrival saw the suspect who ran down the stairs and made good his escape despite their instructions for him to stop.
“Officers gave chase behind the suspect but were unable to catch him whilst others secured the scene. Officers remained at the scene where a search on Farrell’s home revealed several zip lock plastic bags and bulky parcels with leaves, seed and stems all suspected to be cannabis at the property,” the statement details. There is no mention of a discharge of weapons as part of the chase.
CANU further said that while officers were conducting their operation at the premises, they were approached by the suspect’s mother who was questioned and assured ranks that she would bring her son into CANU headquarters to be questioned.
Sandiford noted that an arrest warrant had been issued for Farrell on March 30 and that he had not turned himself in until Monday.
The warrant which was reported by Stabroek News identified Farrell, 32, as a resident of Sixth Street, Paradise Housing Scheme.
Though no specific offence was mentioned the wanted bulletin published via CANU’s social media pages encouraged anyone knowing the whereabouts of Farrell to contact CANU via 227-3507 or 226-0431.
This did not happen instead on Easter Monday the suspect with his mother, other relatives and his Attorney presented themselves to the main gate of CANU’s Headquarters where he turned himself in. He was arrested and further investigated.
According to Anderson both Farrell and his mother are prepared to undergo public polygraph tests to establish the veracity of their statements.
His mother is also prepared to testify that her son’s property including his phones were in the possession of the ranks and therefore there was “no mechanism for CANU to contact Farrell between the date of the search and the wanted bulletin being issued.”
Farrell’s parent has claimed that the ranks initially denied being in possession of her son’s phones and did not reveal that they had seized the item until a neighbour called the number and it began ringing.
At this point the CANIU ranks who had still not shown any form of ID requested that she “sign for the items that were being seized from the premises.”
