Denzel Lawrence Muir, 29, a shopkeeper of Lot 56 Barnwell North, Mocha, East Bank Demerara, was yesterday charged by the Special Organized Crime Unit with two counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.
A release from the police said that he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court One before Magistrate Rochelle. Liverpool where the charges were read, the Administration of Justice Act was applied and he pleaded not guilty.
He was granted $150,000 bail for both charges. The matter was adjourned to the 22nd of August 2023 for statements to be filed in the matters.
In September 2022, SOCU commenced several investigations concerning Romance/Package Delivery Scams allegedly being masterminded by Nigerian nationals, the release said. As a result of these investigations, it was revealed that the accused conspired with other persons who befriended the victim via WhatsApp and formed a relationship with her.
Her presumed lover called her via WhatsApp and told her that he had sent an expensive package with surprises for her. She received a call from someone who claimed that he was working at the airport in New York and the person informed her that her package had arrived in Guyana and someone will call her to pay the customs fees. She subsequently received a call from a male who told her that she needed to pay the amount of $160,000 to clear Customs. The person gave her the name and identification particulars of the accused for her to send the money in his name via the Post Office Corporation.
As such, the victim sent the money via the Post Office Money Order in the accused’s name. Post Office records revealed that the accused received the money but the victim never received any package. Further investigations were carried out and the accused was charged.
Several other charges are forthcoming for other accused persons. A similar modus operandi was established in all the investigations, the release said.
