Guyana, US deepen cooperation on extradition, criminal justice matters

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP, on Thursday met with senior officials from the Unites States (US) Department of Justice and the US Embassy to advance bilateral cooperation in criminal justice, particularly in relation to extradition and fugitive matters.
In a post on the Attorney General’s social media page, it was stated that the visiting US delegation included Sandy Rao, Senior Inspector of the US (US) Marshals Service, the lead federal law enforcement agency in fugitive apprehension and extradition, and Timothy Semons, Regional Security Officer at the US Embassy in Georgetown.
During the meeting, Rao conveyed the US’ appreciation to the Government of Guyana for enacting significant amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Act in 2023. He underscored that the legislative reforms have strengthened the framework for mutual cooperation in extradition proceedings between the two nations.
“These amendments are crucial to streamlining the processing of extradition cases, many of which remain pending,” Rao noted, highlighting that the updated legal provisions will help both countries expedite such matters more efficiently.
The discussions also focused on enhancing broader collaboration in criminal justice, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening mutual legal assistance. The officials agreed to continue working closely to bolster enforcement mechanisms and facilitate information sharing in criminal investigations and judicial processes.
Nandlall reaffirmed Guyana’s readiness to collaborate further with the US in combating transnational crime and ensuring that justice is served within an efficient and fair legal framework.
Earlier this year, officers of the US Marshals Service and the US Embassy Regional Security Office paid a courtesy visit to Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn.
Their meeting, held in the Ministry’s boardroom, focused on key areas of cooperation, including crime-fighting strategies, extradition processes, and other mutual agreements aimed at strengthening security collaboration between Guyana and the US.
In a post on the Ministry’s social media page, it was stated that discussions underscored the ongoing commitment of both parties to enhancing law enforcement partnerships and addressing regional security concerns.

Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Bill
In July 2024, Guyana passed the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Bill, which is aimed at ensuring fugitives hiding from the long arm of the law can be brought home to face justice, while at the same time respecting due process.
This was the view expressed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who presented the bill. The attorney general made it clear that the bill contains safeguards against being misused, since it allows the local judiciary to satisfy itself that there is evidence for the extradition request. Additionally, the Minister of Home Affairs has the final say on whether to allow the extradition request to proceed after a committal order is transmitted from the magistrate.
In February, Guyana extradited Harry Narine Rajkumar to Canada, marking the first-ever extradition between the two nations.
The Home Affairs Ministry confirmed that Rajkumar was sent back to Canada on Thursday to face multiple criminal charges.
Rajkumar was wanted in Canada on serious charges under the Canadian Criminal Code, including attempted murder and aggravated assault specifically within the Ottawa jurisdiction. Authorities had been tracking him since May 2019 after he fled Canadian law enforcement. His capture was made possible through an INTERPOL Red Notice and efforts by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Following his arrest, Rajkumar was remanded to prison and later waived his right to an extradition hearing, opting to return to Canada voluntarily. His extradition was formalised before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.
The prosecution team was led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lisa Cave, along with Ormella Gladstone, Treaty Officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Sergeant Stephan Hinds from the Major Crimes Unit, along with other law enforcement officials.
Last month, the Government announced that it had extradited Parmanand Singh, a citizen of Guyana, to the US. Singh was wanted in the US in connection with a vehicular fatality, and the Home Affairs Ministry had said that he waived his right to an extradition hearing and consented to return to the USA to address judicial matters related to a fatal vehicular incident.
In September 2024, the Guyana Government received a formal extradition request for Singh from the US Government. Acting on this request, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn signalled Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty to initiate legal proceedings required for the extradition.
Parmanand Singh was accused of operating a white 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe while his blood-alcohol level exceeded the lawful limit, leading to impaired faculties. He collided head-on with a black Nissan after driving the wrong way, resulting in the death of Sérgio Gadelha.
In August 2024, a five-year search for a driver who fatally struck a 67-year-old man on Christmas in Queens ended with his arrest in Guyana.
WABC reported that police said Ravindra Dharamjit, 26, fled the scene and the country but was tracked down by detectives in the years following the December 2019 crash. He was arrested by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in August 2024 at a horse racing event and was extradited.
In May 2023, US fugitive Bobby Allen Stark, who was arrested in Guyana for alleged sexual assault in his country, was extradited to face charges. The 52-year-old had fled the US to seek shelter from justice in Guyana.
In 2022, two fugitives who were wanted for sex crimes in the US were extradited.
On February 25, 2022, Julian Yhip and Kareem Hack, who had been hiding out in Guyana for years, were extradited to the US to face charges on separate sexual offences.
Hack was arrested in Berbice, while Yhip was nabbed in Georgetown.
In November 2020, former Guyanese policeman Shawn Neblett was extradited to the USA, where he was wanted for trafficking cocaine. Ranks from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) picked up Neblett from a local prison where he was being held on remand pending extradition proceedings in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Neblett was wanted by the US for his role in trafficking 4.178 kilograms of cocaine, which was found in four parcels inside a suitcase on an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in January 2017.
Caption: Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP, meeting with the visiting US delegation, which included Sandy Rao, Senior Inspector of the US Marshals Service, the lead federal law enforcement agency in fugitive apprehension and extradition, and Timothy Semons, Regional Security Officer at the US Embassy in Georgetown.