Wildlife exporter found guilty of trafficking Venezuelans

Charged over three years ago with trafficking in persons, wildlife exporter Feezal Shaw of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was, on Friday, found guilty of the crime.
The 64-year-old man had been on trial for the offence before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Between February 14 and June 14, 2018, he recruited, transported, and harboured two male Venezuelans illegally for the purpose of exploiting them.
The convict was remanded to prison pending sentencing, which is fixed for February 24.
Apart from holding the men against their will, the prosecution submitted that Shaw had also threatened the men that if they did not comply with his wishes, he would report to the Police their illegal presence in Guyana, and have them arrested, charged, and deported.
According to the Prosecution’s case, the Venezuelans arrived in Guyana on February 14, 2018, via Port Charity. On February 15, 2018, they were taken to a house at Timehri to build exotic cages at $10,000 per cage. After three weeks, Shaw reportedly paid them some money, took away their passports, and had promised to assist each man to get a work permit.
At his first court appearance in September 2018, Shaw was remanded to prison after the prosecutor highlighted the serious nature of the charges levelled against him.
He was eventually released on $100,000 bail. (G1)