The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has been cleared of the damning allegation of a massive drug network involving its ranks.
President David Granger disclosed on Thursday that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the corruption claims made by self-confessed drug lord Barry Dataram found the allegations were without merit. The CoI report is yet to be released publicly but based on the assertions of the President “I would say generally that Barry Dataram’s allegations of corruption are without foundation,” he stated during the recording of “The Public Interest” which will be aired on Friday (today).
In February, Dataram, during an interview with a section of the media, alleged that senior CANU officials were involved in illegal drug trafficking activities.
Amid the widespread controversy, President Granger ordered that an inquest be established into the allegations a week after the revelations.
The probe went on for some two months and following its completion, the report was handed over to State Minister Joseph Harmon on behalf of the Head of State on Friday last.
Brigadier Bruce Lovell was appointed by the Head of State to probe the allegations made against ranks of the country’s premier drug enforcement unit.
Though CANU has been cleared of the corruption allegations made by Dataram, President Granger disclosed that the CoI discovered several administrative deficiencies which required urgent attention. “The CoI pointed to the need for administrative changes to be made in the architecture in Guyana’s anti-narcotics programme,” he stated. Some of these deficiencies include the lack of adequate funding and unavailability of equipment to carry out proper investigations.
Granger had said,while in opposition, that Guyana’s Economy was built on Drugs. Now here is someone who is a known/self confess Drug Lord is revealing who are involved in the Drug illegal business the C.O.L. is saying that that it has no merit. Is it because some of these Big Fishes in the Drug Ring are associated with APNU made Dataram’s allegation without merit? Dataram need to reveal their names to the FBI so that they can do their part then we will know what has merit.
Shame on APNU government.