Elderly couple nabbed with large amount of “bush rum” at Suddie

A letter was recently published in a section of the media under the caption “Bush rum sold under the noses of the police”. That letter precipitated an investigation which has resulted in two persons being arrested.
Based on reports received, an elderly couple was arrested on July 27 after several bottles of spirited liquor and a five-gallon jar with what is suspected to be illicitly distilled liquor (bush rum) were found at their Suddie Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast home. The couple was, however, released on bail pending legal advice.
It was reported in the letter that a woman was operating her bush rum business in close proximity to the Suddie Police Station.
The woman, who also lives a few houses away from the Deputy Vice Chairperson for the Region, was reportedly engaged in open selling of bush rum and shop rum.
The letter writer stated that the woman was a large scale dealer in bush rum operating from her home, and many underage persons were purchasing and imbibing the illegal substance.
“While it is against the law for a juvenile to make purchases of any alcoholic beverage from a licensed shop, alcohol can be made readily available from the “illegal selling” of the commodity, with detrimental effects more so on the youngsters”, the author of the letter related.
He added that the woman was doing a lucrative business in violation of the law. As such, he made an appeal to the Police to protect the community, and moreover, requested that the Customs and Excise Department take the appropriate action against the perpetrator.