6 of 8 persons wanted for money laundering surrender

Six of the eight persons wanted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for money laundering have surrendered, Head of the Unit, Police Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh confirmed to Guyana Times on Friday.
SOCU – an arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF)—issued wanted bulletins for the eight suspects on Tuesday, and according to Karimbaksh, six of them turned themselves in during this week.

Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva confirmed that he handed over 38-year-old Melicia Williams of Kara Kara Housing Scheme, Linden, to the Police on Friday.
The names of the other individuals who surrendered are not immediately known. When asked about the sum of money involved, Karimbaksh explained that this would not be disclosed until charges are laid against them—a practice in keeping with the provisions of Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act.
Wanted bulletins were also issued for: 34-year-old Raul James of Kara Kara Housing Scheme, Mackenzie, Linden; 25-year-old Khadijah Long of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden; 27-year-old Akeem Powers of Victory Valley, Linden; 26-year-old Cassandra McLennan of Kara Kara Housing Scheme; Leon Williams, 38, of Kara Kara Housing Scheme; 25-year-old Aubrey Fraser of Kara Kara Housing Scheme and 25-year-old Denzil Muir of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
While SOCU has not provided any details on the allegations made, it is asking anyone with information about the other suspects to contact SOCU at (592) 225-3079 or (592) 225-3084.
The Guyana Police Force had explained that SOCU investigations are confidential. SOCU is designated with responsibility for ensuring that money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes are fully and thoroughly investigated.
Only a few months ago Police issued a wanted bulletin for Shamar Anphaney Barrow of Lot 55 Freeman Street, Georgetown, for questioning in connection to money laundering and other serious criminal offences. It is still unclear if the man was ever found.
Earlier this month, a three-person family of Somerset Court, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, was slapped with a raft of money laundering charges. Arrested at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, as they attempted to flee to the United States of America, they are facing 268 counts of money laundering and conspiracy to launder money worth over $4.1B.
Those charged were Kenneth Kellawan Ramnarine, a taxi driver; his son Damian Brandon Ramnarine, a salesman; and Kenneth’s reputed wife, Yevette Nalini Saroop, a businesswoman.
They were all remanded to prison. SOCU said that the family has been involved in laundering billions of dollars and transferring large sums to dozens of companies in China.
These wanted bulletins come in the wake of a recent statement by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, that the United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) wants to intensify cooperation with Guyana to secure more convictions in a range of crimes including money laundering and trafficking of narcotics.
According to Nandlall, the FBI team also listed countering the financing of terrorism, trafficking of narcotics and firearms, tracing the proceeds of organised crime and forfeiture of assets, trafficking in persons, and cyber-related criminal activities, as other areas of cooperation with Guyana.