By Nicole Telford-The Government of Guyana seems to have lost confidence in the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The breaking news report of 4.4 tonnes of cocaine found buried in underground bunkers in Guyana, Matthew’s Ridge location, Region #1 indicated that the United States’ Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) assisted with the operation by local security agents. If it is that there was no involvement of the GPF as was reported by media entities, then we as a country are in trouble is the view of retired officers.
Village Voice News spoke with several senior retired officers of the joint services who laid out some glaring omissions on the operation conducted by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the DEA, there are many questions to be answered by the state one officer said. The Police is the first to be conducting the business of crime or criminal activities in any jurisdiction of a country, even if all entities or state agents are on the ground.
Another retired officer said if it is that only CANU and the DEA agents were there, it is not in keeping with the usual protocol to not have the police presence. The retired officer stated that CANU is a government agency that has not been enshrined in the constitution nor has any mandate over the GPF since the GPF has the sole responsibility of policing crime and any criminal findings must be handed over to the police whether discovered by CANU, the GDF the DEA or any other.
It was reported on August 31, 2024 CANU officers, in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces Unit, carried out an operation in the Region #1 area which led to the discovery of an illegal airstrip and the unearthing of drugs in bunkers.
However, the Guyana Police Force, a premiere institution that has the responsibility of service and protection of our nation, is yet to put out a statement on the issue of the drug discovery and the illegal airstrip.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit, Assistant Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh reportedly avoided answering journalists questions on allegations of police corruption involving senior officers at the launch of the National Defence Institute.
The Opposition, in a recent press release stated that based on the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) record on crime fighting, there is no anticipation any serious investigation or major arrest would result from the cocaine bust.
