–    to spring bus transporting cocaine, cash

As the Guyana Police Force battles to regain the trust of the public, a Corporal and three Constables were placed under close arrest after senior officials within B Division (Berbice) received word of them allegedly accepting some $6 million to release a vehicle carrying cocaine and cash that was seized during a road block.

According to the Police, an Assistant Superintendent of Police was also implicated in the alleged corrupt act and has been transferred from the Division to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, pending an investigation.

Based upon information received by the Guyana Times, the incident occurred on September 10, but the senior officials in the Division only recently got wind of it and called in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to probe the matter.

Police said in a release, “The Police Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating an alleged corrupt transaction involving a number of police ranks following the seizure of a quantity of cocaine from a motor vehicle along the Corentyne, Berbice, on September 10, 2015.”

When contacted, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that his department is probing an allegation of corruption in B Division, but opted not to divulge information about the incident or the investigation.

However, Guyana Times was told by Police sources that the ranks involved are from the Whim Police Station.  According to reports, on the day in question, the ranks, including a female Police Officer, were conducting a road block exercise at Salton on the Corentyne, when they intercepted a minibus reportedly carrying a quantity of cocaine and large sums of cash.

The ranks reportedly took the vehicle and its occupants to the Station; however, before entering the compound, the officers allegedly negotiated a settlement with the occupants instead of arresting them and took some $6 million cash in exchange for releasing the bus and its occupants. This newspaper was told that the vehicle was reportedly heading to Suriname with the narcotics and cash.

“Shortened” Further reports indicated that the men went back to the Station where they allegedly informed the Assistant Superintendent about their crime, but instead of taking disciplinary action against the ranks, the senior officer took a portion of the bribe money.

This, the Police source added, reportedly angered one of the ranks as his share was “shortened”, so he began complaining about it. Word of the incident began spreading and eventually reached acting Commander of the Division, Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, who took the necessary action against the officers involved. This publication was told that Watts was informed of the allegation on Tuesday and immediately alerted his superiors at Police Headquarters. A team from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was dispatched the following day to investigate the matter.

Along with the CID, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is also probing the matter. Meanwhile contacted for a comment, Senior Superintendent Watts, who is acting in place of B Division Commander Christopher Griffith, pointed out that his office was totally against acts of corruption and rogue cops.

“We are here to fight these things and will not tolerate unprofessional behaviour,” the Senior Officer stated. Watts noted that such despicable acts tend to cause the public to lose trust in the Police and with all the efforts being undertaken to regain the confidence of the public, he would not tolerate such behaviours.

Recently, the acting Commander of B Division has adopted a no-nonsense approach to undisciplined Police Officers. So far this year, several Police Officers have been placed before the courts in Berbice for violation of the law. Some are from the Traffic Department while others are from the Division’s CID section. However most of the ranks before the courts are those referred to as general duty ranks. Additionally, the OPR is also investigating a number of other ranks, against whom reports were made.