Source: NationNews
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyanese government has stated that it “will continue to work diligently” with the United States following the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioning several named Guyanese and foreign nationals. These sanctions stem from ongoing investigations into the use of Guyana as a transhipment point for drugs destined for North America.
In an official statement, the government of Georgetown welcomed the “significant development” resulting from the actions taken by OFAC on Thursday. Among those sanctioned was Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for his involvement in drug trafficking.
In response to this development, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has placed Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh on Administrative Leave with immediate effect to facilitate further investigations. The Ministry of Home Affairs indicated that further action will follow.
The individuals sanctioned by OFAC include Paul “Randell” Daby Jr. of 127 D’Aguiar Park, Georgetown; former policeman Mark “Demon” Cromwell of Lot 40 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara; a resident of Lot 10 Buxton, East Coast Demerara; Guyanese-Venezuelan Randolph “Rudolph” Duncan; and Colombians Manuel Gutierrez Salazar and Yeison Andrez Sanchez Vallejo.
OFAC has alleged that Daby and Duncan operate some of the largest drug trafficking organisations in Guyana. They are said to rely on maritime vessels and aircraft to conceal and transport cocaine, while also allegedly bribing Guyanese officials to facilitate their operations.
The US allegations state that Daby Jr. traffics large quantities of cocaine, coordinating shipments from Colombia and Venezuela via aircraft and using illegal airstrips in Guyana. Additionally, it asserts that Daby Jr. utilises a network of individuals to hide and transport cocaine in shipping containers from Guyana and Suriname ports.
Washington also claims that Daby Jr. is involved in the transportation of illegal gold from Guyana via maritime vessels. Duncan is accused of trafficking cocaine from Guyana to Africa and the Caribbean, with Europe and the United States as final destinations. OFAC describes Cromwell as a violent drug trafficker and an associate of Daby Jr.
Importantly, none of the Guyanese individuals mentioned in the OFAC sanctions list has been arrested or charged in connection with the recent drug bust in Mabaruma.
According to OFAC, as a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the designated individuals that are located in the United States or under the control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Furthermore, any entities owned, directly or indirectly, 50 per cent or more by one or more blocked persons are also considered blocked. Unless authorised by a specific license issued by OFAC or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions involving the property or interests of blocked persons by US persons or within the United States.
Financial institutions and other entities may also face the risk of sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities with designated or blocked persons. Prohibitions include offering funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or accepting contributions or services from such individuals.
Violations of US sanctions can result in civil or criminal penalties for both US and foreign individuals. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanction violations based on strict liability. More information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of US economic sanctions can be found in its Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines.
This latest round of sanctions against the four Guyanese individuals comes less than a year after Nazar “Shell” Mohamed and his son, presidential hopeful Azruddin Mohamed, were sanctioned for allegedly evading US$50 million in taxes owed to Guyana due to the exportation of over 10,000 kilograms of gold.