By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – “Nothing of the sort,” Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said in response to questions inquiring about Guyana’s alleged links to the New York Mafia and an Italian syndicate.
According to Rohee, based on intelligence which the United States shared with Guyana, there is no substance to Guyana being linked, for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.
News had surfaced in February 2014 claiming that the New York Mafia reportedly conspired with the Italian syndicate to traffic cocaine and heroin stashed in shipments of pineapples, frozen fish and other food.
The shipments traveled through ports in Guyana, where Mexican drug cartel members facilitated deliveries, prosecutors had said.
Rohee was immediately instructed by President Donald Ramotar to make contact with United States authorities to determine the extent to which foreign drug lords are connected to Guyana.
Meanwhile, Rohee reiterated the need for the DEA to be established in Guyana as quickly as possible. This he believes will put Guyana in a better position to deal with the issue.
Rohee explained that the finishing touches are being made to the new Drug Master Plan, even as he rejected Opposition David Granger’s comments that the narco – trade is driving the local economy.
“It is ludicrous… a typical anti government absurd statement.”
He boasted of government’s efforts to fight the trade; adding that he does not believe that the drug trade in Guyana is so rampant that it is a harness to development and called for persons to stop harping the matter based on anecdotal propositions.
Rohee said none of the Opposition members have any morals to speak of government’s challenges in fighting the drug trade when they continue to block the passage of the Anti –Money Laundering and countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill in Parliament.
