U.S. closing in on local drug kingpins
Guyana Chronicle
May 1, 2004
ATTORNEY General, Mr. Doodnauth Singh, yesterday confirmed that he has met security and legal officials from the United States to ascertain the extradition procedures for a number of persons in Guyana suspected to be involved in major drug trafficking and money laundering operations and who are likely to be put before the courts in the U.S.
“They came and had a meeting with me and enquired about the procedures whereby persons who have been indicted in the United States could be extradited assuming a request for their extradition was made,” he told reporters.
“I explained to them the procedures that are required to be followed whereby, assuming a request is made, the Minister of Home Affairs can issue an arrest warrant on the basis of the evidence which has been submitted for those persons to be arrested and placed before the courts,” he said.
The U.S. security and legal officials who were in Guyana this week are reported to have identified the kingpins of various drug trafficking and money laundering rings operating out of Guyana.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that at least 14 persons in Guyana have been fingered by the U.S. officials for extradition to face charges in that country.
Asked whether any specific requests for extradition were made by the U.S. officials, Singh said “no”.
The Attorney General said based on the fact that they enquired as to the procedures of extradition, it is very likely that that may occur.
He also pointed out that that request has to be made to the Minister of Foreign Affairs which is then sent to the Minister of Home Affairs, who may then seek the advice of the Attorney General.
Thereafter, the Home Affairs Minister will determine whether he will issue the warrant for the arrest of the persons.
Sources said that if the U.S. asked for persons to be extradited, based on the evidence presented of their possible involvement in drug trafficking and/or money laundering, authorities here will deal with the issue of extradition in an expeditious manner.
A legal source said that for the government to deal with the applications for indictments expeditiously, it may resort to appointing a Special Magistrate to handle the cases.
A number of Guyanese have been busted in the United States recently on major drugs and money laundering offences and officials say they are closing in on rings that have established networks here and in the U.S.