Ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) arrested businessman Royston Peniston of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, on Friday evening after he was busted with a quantity of cocaine at his residence.
CANU officers conducted the operation at the businessman’s property, where they intercepted the 44-year-old businessman with two hardcover suitcases in his possession. A subsequent search of the suitcases in the presence of the suspect revealed a quantity of whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.
Arrested: Royston Peniston
Peniston was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters where a further search of both suitcases led to the discovery of two parcels suspected to also be cocaine. The suspected narcotic tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately five pounds (2.178kg).
This is a street value of $2.1 million. Investigations are ongoing.
The businessman, also known as “Fat Joe”, is said to be the owner of Blue Iguana, which is located at Fifth and Light Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown.
Only two days ago, a United States-based Guyanese was busted with over 13 pounds of cocaine in milk packets at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.
According to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), officers intercepted 52-year-old Cranson Carlson Henry, who was destined to travel to the United States.
Reports are that Cranson, of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, and of Rockaway Avenue 11212 Brooklyn, New York, was questioned after seven Milex milk packets containing a whitish powdery substance were seen in his suitcase.
CANU, in a release on the bust, said Cranson admitted to having a number of narcotics in his luggage, and as such he was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters.
The cocaine that was found by CANU
The substance subsequently tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately 13.4lbs. (6.070kg), which has a street value of $13.3 million, CANU said.
According to CANU, further investigations led to the arrest of singer Mark Ferdinand, 44, of Samaria Dam, Pouderoyen, who had been arrested in 2015 in the United States of America for drug trafficking.
CANU noted that Berkeley Ferdinand, the brother of Mark Ferdinand, had been charged by CANU in 2016 for trafficking in narcotics, and had been sentenced to 3 years in prison. Investigations are ongoing. (G9)
