‘Alarming’ hike in drug smuggling through personal consignments worrying – GRA

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has expressed concern over an alarming increase in efforts to smuggle refined narcotics and other illicit items through personal consignments at all ports of entry into Guyana.
In a statement, the Authority shared that these illegal substances have been placed in barrels, boxes, packages, and containers for the purpose of smuggling.
“Recently, the Authority and CANU seized quantities of cannabis and refined marijuana found in personal effect consignments and suitcases, which have led to several persons being arrested and placed before the court,” the entity highlighted.
The GRA has said that, in collaboration with its sister agencies: the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), it intends to pursue and minimise all such illicit trade or activities. This means that anyone who fails to adhere to the laws of Guyana, and is found in pursuit thereof, will be condignly dealt with, in accordance with the respective laws.
“The Authority once again advises all such persons dealing in, or in contemplation of engaging in, such illegal activities to cease and desist therefrom.”
The GRA has said it continues to work together with the general public to ensure compliance with the nation’s tax, trade, and border laws.
The Authority is encouraging persons to report any illicit, unlawful, or smuggling activities on telephone number 227-6060, extensions 3201, 3204, 3205, 3211, 3212, or 3408; and has promised that the information provided would be dealt with in a confidential manner.
Last month, a quantity of imported cannabis was intercepted at Muneshwers Shipping Limited in a box shipped from the United States. It was reported that on the day in question, agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were contacted by the shipping company after several packages of cannabis were discovered in a box. Upon arriving at the location, CANU officers conducted additional searches before taking possession of the box, which was subsequently transported to its headquarters along with an employee of the shipping company who had made the discovery. The cannabis was weighed and amounted to 1.920 kilograms. The employee was however, released.
Only recently, CANU Head James Singh noted that the unit wants to send a strong message that the Government is serious about fighting narcotics trafficking within Guyana, and also that Guyana will not be used as a point for narcotics to be trans-shipped to other territories.
He made these comments earlier in the year, when CANU destroyed 140.6 kilograms (kg) of seized cocaine and 454.7kg of seized marijuana. This totals around 596kg of narcotics that were destroyed, and are from cases that have been concluded in the Magistrates’ Courts.
In 2022, 3.7 tonnes of marijuana and over 124kg of cocaine were seized from various ports of entry and through operations conducted by CANU. Some matters are pending in the Magistrates Courts. On this note, Singh raised concerns about the amount of time it takes for a person found with narcotics to be prosecuted.
“While I do not want to criticise the Judiciary, I guess there’s a backlog, but it doesn’t help when you arrest someone today and they’re placed on bail and their cases are being called until four, five months after. It’s been seen as not mocking us, but here it is we have seized you with the drugs, we have seized the drugs, we have arrested you, we have put you before the court, only for you to be placed on bail. It’s a bit disheartening at times,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has assured that Government would continue to support CANU as it works to prevent Guyana from being used as a transshipment point for drug trafficking.