Weeks after self-confessed drug lord Barry Dataram made damning allegations against ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Retired Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier, Bruce Lovell, was appointed the lone commissioner to head the inquiry and conduct the investigations.

Self-confessed drug lord, Barry Dataram

According to reports, President David Granger confirmed that the retired military personnel has agreed to be the lone commissioner while it was further reported that he will be investigating the allegations made by Dataram.

The Terms of Reference have already been approved and the investigations are expected to begin by April 1.

Dataram, during an interview with HGPTV Nightly News (Channel 67), alleged that senior officials of CANU are involved in drug trafficking activities and even alleged that one of the ranks bagged some G$10 million in exchange for allowing cocaine to leave the country. He also made allegations against the fairly new Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

After the revelations, Head of CANU James Singh, denied all allegations of impropriety levelled by Dataram.

He explained that Dataram’s savagery against his agency may be as a result of Dataram’s uneasiness due to the commencement of his trial for possession of 129.230kg of cocaine found in Shrimp at his Lot 661 Fourth Avenue, Block X, Diamond, East Bank Demerara residence on April 16, 2015.

Head of CANU, James Singh

His relative, Troy Dataram an electrician, was recently found with over G$10 million cash in his home by the SOCU.

On the other hand, Singh stated that CANU welcomes the “frank confessions” of Dataram as it relates to his involvement in the narcotics trade and urged him, along with “others” connected to the narcotics trade, both small and large; mules and traffickers alike, to attend the nearest Police station and/or the CANU Head Quarters, Georgetown to provide useful intelligence in past and ongoing investigations an