On Thursday, July 18, two ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were arrested by Police at about 3:45 am after their vehicle was intercepted and searched, and they were found to be in possession of 22 bulky bags containing 154 lbs of cannabis.
The GDF in a subsequent release named the two ranks as Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Staff Sergeant Adisa Higgins and Sergeant Colvis Sam.
A release from the police said that the two GDF ranks were nabbed during a joint intelligence-led Police operation conducted by ranks from Special Branch and Regional Division 4’B’.
The two ranks were in a motor vehicle (DFB 1786) belonging to the GDF. The vehicle was being driven at the time by the 31-year-old GDF Sergeant from Turkeyen. The other occupant of the vehicle was the 42-year-old GDF Staff Sergeant from Linden. Both men were stationed at the GDF’s Camp Ayanganna Headquarters, the police said.
Police stopped the vehicle along the Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara, (EBD) in the vicinity of the Prairie Hotel, and a search was conducted during which 22 bulky bags were found, the police said. The bags contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
The two GDF ranks were told of the offence of trafficking in narcotics and cautioned. They were both arrested and taken to the Regional Police Division 4’B’ Headquarters, where the suspected cannabis was weighed and amounted to 154 lbs.
The two GDF ranks were placed in custody and have since appeared in court.
In its press release on July 18, the GDF said it “is committed to maintaining the highest standards of conduct among its ranks and does not condone any behaviour that undermines the trust and confidence reposed in the Force by the public. The Force is fully collaborating” with the police.
The GDF added that “this incident is an anomaly and does not reflect the character and dedication of the men and women who serve”.
It doesn’t appear that the GDF’s assurance of the event being an “anomaly” is credible. The police yesterday announced a bust – double the size of July 18 – with another pair of soldiers.
In a statement, the police said that about 9:20 pm on Saturday, acting on information received, police ranks from Special Branch and other ranks went to Mandela Avenue, in the vicinity of Space Gym (behind the Botanical Gardens), where they intercepted a Route 42 motor bus (#BTT 27), which was proceeding south along Mandela Avenue.
The bus is owned and was driven at the time by Edward Mc Calmont, a 40-year-old Corporal of the GDF, attached to Camp Ayanganna and a resident of Kaneville, EBD. Another GDF rank, John Johnson, a 24-year-old Lance Corporal attached to Base Camp Stephenson and a resident of Timehri, EBD, was sitting in the front passenger seat.
The ranks were informed that they had been stopped based on information received that they were trafficking in narcotics. Police then carried out a search of the vehicle, in the presence of the two GDF ranks, and found 49 large bulky parcels wrapped with transparent plastic on the bus seats.
Police opened the parcels in their presence and found that they contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. They were told of the offence committed, arrested and cautioned.
The GDF ranks were taken to the East La Penitence Police station, along with the bus and the suspected cannabis which, when weighed, amounted to 316 pounds. The soldiers remain in custody as investigations continue.
Without prejudice to the four soldiers who have been held, these two incidents are alarming and raise serious questions about whether there is a drug ring in the GDF employing the army’s reach throughout the country and its access to transportation.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Ali and the Defence Board should take immediate action to inquire into what is happening in the GDF.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan should be summoned to provide an explanation and should be asked what type of investigation was conducted since the first incident on July 18 and what had been discovered. That a second incident has occurred leads one to conclude that this is not an “anomaly” as had been suggested by the GDF and that there is more to be discovered.
The first interception on July 18 should have triggered a broad investigation at Camp Ayanganna to unearth the masterminds of this operation and its connection to the underworld and ganja farmers. Clearly a Board of Inquiry should have been established by the GDF but it is unclear if this was done.
Given the existential threat posed by Venezuela to Guyana, the role of the army in national defence has never been more important. As an institution and ‘disciplined service’ it is also instrumental in boosting morale and setting the best example possible for youth who would like to be recruited into the GDF.
In addition, given Caracas’ posture there has been greatly expanded co-operation with friendly armies which have extended solidarity through visits of senior officials, military exercises and defence agreements. The last thing the country needs is the image of a defence force compromised by drug trafficking and links to the underworld.
