Drug bond employee slapped with possession of gun, ammo and bribery charges
A 22-year-old father of four who was allegedly nabbed with unlicensed guns and ammunition and millions of dollars in cash was on Friday slapped with fives charges, including one for bribing a cop, when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts.
Terrence Williams of Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who is employed as a storage attendant at the Health Ministry’s Drug Bond at Diamond, EBD, was arraigned on Thursday.
Remanded: Terrence Williams
He faced two counts of possession of a firearm without licence, two counts of possession of ammunition without licence, and a charge for offering Policeman Leon George $1.7 million in cash to forego charges against him.
Williams, who was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to prison until April 28, 2022.
The Police prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the accused citing the serious nature and prevalence of the offences as well as the penalty they attract.
It was reported that ranks visited the drug bond on Monday last to conduct investigations after receiving a report that simple larceny was committed there. Upon arrival, investigators contacted and interviewed several employees who were fingered in the alleged crime.
Some of the money seized by the Police during the investigation
After all the workers denied the allegations, the investigators searched motor car PAB 3032, which is owned by Williams, during which a duffel bag containing a 9mm Luger pistol without a magazine and two rounds of 9mm ammunition, a .380 pistol with a magazine containing seven matching rounds, 20 rounds of .380 ammunition, and a large quantity of cash were unearthed.
As a result, Williams was told of the offences committed and cautioned in accordance with the Judge’s rule, to which he replied: “officer leh we deal with this before it reach de station”. He and four other employees were arrested and escorted to the Golden Grove Police Station where they were further questioned.
The unlicensed firearms and ammunition that were found in the duffel bag that was in Williams’s car
During questioning, Williams requested to have the duffel bag. When it was handed to him, he withdrew $1.7 million in cash and handed it over to the Police ranks to forgo charges against him. At this point, he was told of another offence committed—a corrupt transaction with an agent.
He was again cautioned in accordance with the Judge’s rule to which he responded: “Well sir tek de whole bag ah money, all I want is me freedom”.
Police found $4,580,000 in cash in his possession which included US$5760. The money, firearms, and ammunition were lodged at the Police station. This publication understands that there is an apparent racket ongoing whereby drugs stored at the bond would go missing. Police are also pursuing the businesses to which the stolen pharmaceuticals have been sold.
