News
22 augustus 2004
We must be watchful
Sunday Opinion
The central reason advanced for the setting-up of a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) office is the ongoing search for a top Al Qaeda terrorist suspect, Adnan El Shukrijumah, who lived in Trinidad after the search began for him last year.
The US Embassy in Port of Spain has confirmed that an FBI Special Agent is already in this country setting up the operations to service Trinidad and Tobago as well as Suriname and Guyana where El Shukrijumah is also believed to have found refuge. The disclosed information is that the FBI Office here will focus on exchanging information on criminal terrorist activities between the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Guyana with the Bureau also being involved in training local law enforcement officers to better fight crime and terrorism.
The Trinidad office will be the FBI's 53rd office, or legat, in a foreign country since the FBI believes "it is essential to station highly skilled agents in other countries to help prevent terrorism and crime from reaching across borders and harming Americans in their homes and in workplaces." It stands to reason, however, that the FBI would not set about setting up a branch office, as it were, in a foreign country in the absence of evidence that there was some thing or some person in that country that presented a threat of some kind. It is in this context that the question must be asked-where and with whom did El Shukrijumah stay while he was in Trinidad if, indeed, he is not still here? Clearly, the man must have collaborators with the certain likelihood being that they were of the same terrorist stripe.
There are Trinbagonians who shudder at the very idea of there being people with terrorist links in our population to the point where some of them have gone publicly on record to protest what they perceive to be an alarmist tendency on the part of this newspaper to keep warning that such people are not only here but constitute a clear danger. We, for our part, remain puzzled by that naïveté, given our own terrifying experience with fundamentalist thought and action 14 years ago and wonder, sometimes, whether the reaction is not part of a counter-propaganda being organized by suspect organizations in an attempt to "play dead" as a means of catching the "corbeaux" population alive.
Since this would only be possible through the compliance of ostensibly "clean" figures we prefer, instead, to lean on the explanation that what continues to be at work here is the Trinidadian laissez-faire that insists on holding that nothing really bad can happen either here or from here, whatever the historical evidence that points to the exact opposite. The truth is we have to be watchful, alert and be prepared to save ourselves, whatever the assistance we get from outside, by our own courageous endeavors.
20 augustus 2004
No compromise on territorial integrity
President stresses
THE protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana is the duty of all Guyanese and the government will never compromise on this, President Bharrat Jagdeo declared yesterday.
The Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces reiterated the position to members of the reserves and regular personnel of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Camp Seweyo, Timehri.
He told a recent batch of reserves that has completed training that they must conduct themselves in an exemplary manner when they return to their communities so that they can inspire others and preserve the respect of the GDF and the government. He urged them to use the knowledge and skills they have learnt to continue providing the traditional service to the community and to understand their responsibilities in the major task ahead of nation building.
“If we put aside differences, we can succeed. We have to succeed as there is no option of failure,” the President exhorted. He noted that the current crime situation can retard the development of the country, but is confident that the difficulties can be overcome once all Guyanese remain positive about the future and do not fall prey to despair. Apart from border threats, the President explained that several other factors could undermine the peace and integrity of the country, including narco-trafficking, epidemics and unilateral economic action by some countries.
Referring to the recent proposal by the European Union to cut sugar prices, Mr Jagdeo stressed that if implemented, it would affect all Guyanese because of the predominance of the sugar industry in Guyana’s economy. The sugar sector accounts for nearly 17% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Turning to Guyana’s border issues, President Jagdeo said the use of force will only be a last resort and the government is using diplomacy in its efforts to resolve those issues.
He noted that with respect to the border dispute with Guyana’s eastern neighbour, Suriname, the government has taken the matter to the International Maritime Tribunal under the United Nations International Convention on the Law of the Sea. In relation to the border issue with Venezuela, he said Guyana has been receiving consistent international solidarity at several internal fora, particularly at the Commonwealth level and from the Caribbean Community.
He alluded also to the bilateral treaty of cooperation with Barbados which incorporates fixed maritime borders with that country, adding that approaches to Trinidad have been made as well for a similar arrangement. The President also explained that small developing countries like Guyana have constraints in defence because of scarce resources, and as such have adopted a policy of a small professional army while expanding the number of reserves. There are about 1,200 reserves in the army and this number could increase in a few years to around 4,000. (CHAMANLALL NAIPAUL)
CGX to drill for oil soon
CGX Energy Inc., the Canadian company currently focusing on oil exploration in Guyana, has identified several locations for the start of drilling operations onshore. CGX says it has chosen at least three exploratory wells here “based on technical merit and access considerations.” The identification of the sites, across the 800,000-acre Berbice Block belonging to ON Energy Inc., an 84.6 per cent subsidiary of CGX, suggests that CGX is on schedule to begin onshore drilling operations in Berbice in the fourth quarter of this year.
CGX Energy Inc. is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company managed by a team of experienced oil, gas and finance professionals in Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. It is financed internationally and has thousands of shareholders worldwide. The company is very optimistic about finding oil in its Berbice Block after reporting encouraging results from “very good quality seismic data” obtained in the feasibility programme it completed in June.
Earlier findings indicate that the one oilfield known as Tambaredjo, 200 kilometres to the east of Suriname, contains 900 million barrels of heavy oil-in-place, from which about 170 million barrels are recoverable. A new geometrical analysis by GeoMicrobial Technologies of the U.S. state of Oklahoma has concluded that, based on fluorescence, potential oil in the Berbice Block itself is “likely significantly lighter than in Tambaredjo.” This suggests that the Berbice Block contains much more recoverable oil reserves than the Tambaredjo oilfield.
“We are excited about this opportunity because of the strong analogies to Tambaredjo and Calcutta in Suriname, the positive geo-chem analysis and the recent seismic programme,” CGX President Kerry Sully said yesterday. But Mr Sully cautioned that as no hydrocarbon reservoirs have been discovered in Guyana, “the risk of finding commercial deposits of petroleum remains high.” CGX recently raised US$7M from international bids to advance its oil exploration operations in Guyana. The company has had to resort to onshore drilling after its offshore drilling programme was interrupted on June 3, 2000, when Surinamese gunboats forced it to remove its oil rig from its concession area.
Suriname claimed the area to be Surinamese territory. Guyana rejected the claim and on February 25 last asked the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea in Hamburg, Germany, to rule on the maritime boundary dispute between the two countries. Guyana’s offshore zone is estimated to contain reserves of at least 1,200 million barrels of oil.
19 augustus 2004
WAR ON TERRORISM
FBI seeks Guyana's help finding al Qaeda suspect
GEORGETOWN, Guyana - The FBI has asked police in Guyana for help in locating one of America's most wanted terror suspect, Adnan el Shukrijumah, 
a Saudi-born al Qaeda suspect who once lived in South Florida.
Dennis Pierce, an FBI agent at the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Venezuela, said Tuesday that the agency had given a full briefing to local police and other law enforcement agencies as authorities try to track down the Saudi-born man. Pierce also noted the $5 million reward for information leading to Shukrijumah's capture, saying he is one of the most wanted men in the United States. U.S. officials have said only that he is a suspected al Qaeda member.
Pierce said an FBI team, which was in Guyana this week to help run a training course for local police, used the chance to ask for help in finding Shukrijumah, whose Guyana-born father was for decades a respected Muslim cleric in Guyana and nearby Trinidad. ''We showed and distributed wanted posters and bulletins and asked them to be on the lookout just in case he doubles back here because we know he has been here about two to three years ago,'' Pierce told The Herald. Shukrijumah was seen in Guyana as late as December, and was reportedly spotted in Honduras earlier this year.
Shukrijumah's father grew up in Guyana and ran a mosque there after returning from theological studies in Saudi Arabia in the 1960s. He later retired to Miramar, where he died earlier this year. (BY BERT WILKINSON, Special to The Herald)
FBI to set up office at US Embassy this month
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States is set to establish a permanent office in Trinidad and Tobago before the end of the month, but the Government and head of the police have said they know nothing about it. The US Embassy in Port of Spain yesterday confirmed that an FBI Special Agent is already in the country setting up the operations.
The search for a top Al Qaeda terrorist suspect, Adnan El Shukrijumah, who lived in Trinidad and Tobago after the search began for him in 2003, is one of the reasons for the establishment of the FBI office here. Public Affairs officer at the US Embassy Robert Skinner said the special agent-or legal attache, as he will be called-is establishing the FBI's operation in the US Embassy on Marli Street. The FBI's base will operate as a sub-office of the regional office, which operates out of Caracas, Venezuela.
It will service Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Guyana, where El Shukrijumah is believed to have been hiding. Skinner said the FBI office here will focus on exchanging information on criminal activity between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as with the other two countries. He said the FBI will be involved in training law enforcement officers to better fight crime and terrorism. Although he has not given an exact date for the start-up of operations, he has confirmed that some work is already taking place.
This will be the 53rd FBI office, or legat, in a foreign country. According to the FBI's website, the Bureau believes "it is essential to station highly skilled special agents in other countries to help prevent terrorism and crime from reaching across borders and harming Americans in their homes and workplaces". The website says these offices are to facilitate resolution of the FBI's domestic investigations which have international leads and focuses on deterring crime that threatens America such as drug trafficking, international terrorism, and economic espionage.
Both National Security Minister Martin Joseph and Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul said yesterday they had no knowledge that the FBI was establishing an office here and could not comment on it. However, the FBI's legal attache for Venezuela, Dennis Pierce, has also confirmed that an office is being set up in this country this month. Pierce is in Guyana trying to get that country's assistance in finding El Shukrijumah, a man considered as one of the leaders of Al Qaeda. Only yesterday the US raised its alert on the Mexican border following information that El Shukrijumah might be attempting to enter the country using a Canadian, Saudi Arabian or Trinidadian passport. (By Sampson Nanton)
13 augustus 2004
News Briefs >From The Caribbean Associated Press
Three employees of national airline sentenced on drug charges
PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) - A judge sentenced three employees of Suriname's national airline to seven years in jail Wednesday for attempting to smuggle cocaine to Holland. Harry Pireau, 38, pleaded guilty. Premdath Harkoe, 57, and John Rudge, 37, pleaded innocent.
About 70 kilograms (154 pounds) of cocaine was found aboard the Surinam Airways plane in May 2003. Prosecutors said Pireau, Harkoe and Rudge hid the drugs in a container. Suriname is a former Dutch colony in South America.
12 augustus 2004
Four Brooklyn residents were indicted on federal drug charges today
BOSTON
The four were arrested in June of this year in East Boston in connection with an undercover sting after having allegedly paid $200,000 for over 100 kilograms of cocaine smuggled by boat from Guyana, South America. United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; Robin M. Avers, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Rear Admiral David P. Pekoske, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard, First District; William J. Schenkelberg, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Northeast Region; Joseph Carter, Chief of the Massachusetts Bay, Transportation Authority Police Department; Colonel Thomas G. Robbins, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Kathleen O'Toole, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department, announced today that the following individuals were named in a four-count indictment:
1) WALLSTEIN DWAYNE ALLEN, age 32, 3020 Avenue D, Brooklyn, N.Y.;
2) MICHAEL E. GREEN, age 28, 153 East 92 Street, Brooklyn, N.Y.;
3) ANDRE PAGE, age 27, 1172 President Street, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and
4) AQUAYA STEPHANIE PERRY, age 22, 1361 East 99th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y.
ALLEN is charged with conspiring with others to import cocaine into the United States. ALLEN, GREEN and PAGE are charged with conspiring to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. All four defendants are charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Lastly, PERRY is also charged with misprision of a felony. According to the indictment, previously filed documents, and testimony given in court, it is alleged that a cooperating witness was approached in early 2004 about becoming involved in a scheme to smuggle over 100 kilograms of cocaine from Guyana to Massachusetts. It is alleged that the cocaine was ultimately intended for distribution in the New York City area. In mid- March, 2004, ALLEN drove up from New York City, met with an undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") agent and gave him $15,000 in cash to cover the expenses of sailing to South America to pick up the cocaine.
On May 4, 2004, the ICE undercover agent was given 105 kilograms of cocaine on a boat in international waters off the shore of Suriname, South America. It is alleged that the cocaine had originated with international drug smugglers in Guyana which borders Suriname. It is alleged that the shipment of cocaine was to be delivered by boat to ALLEN in Massachusetts and then transported to New York City for distribution there.
It is alleged that ALLEN is a supervisor of a thriving cocaine business being conducted in Brooklyn, New York and that ALLEN is engaged on a daily basis in the distribution of large quantities of cocaine to various customers.
It is alleged that on Saturday, June 5, ALLEN, GREEN, PAGE and PERRY drove from New York to Massachusetts in two separate vehicles, met with the undercover ICE agent at the Prudential Center in Boston and then drove followed the agent to a warehouse at a marina in East Boston.
It is allegedthat ALLEN then paid $200,000 in cash to the undercover agent for the deliveryof the cocaine, believing that it had just arrived in the area by boat from Suriname. It is alleged that ALLEN and GREEN then loaded the cocaine into one of their vehicles in preparation for driving it to New York. The four defendants were immediately arrested by federal agents.
"The U.S. Attorney's Office along with its partners in law enforcement is working hard to keep America's borders safe, not only from terror but from large scale drug smuggling as well," stated U.S. Attorney Sullivan. "We will continue to do all in our power to stop the illegal importation of drugs into the United States and to eradicate organized drug activity."
"This case is an example of the outstanding cooperation that ICE maintains with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies," stated ICE Special Agent in Charge Avers. "As a result of this unified approach, we are more effectively targeting drug trafficking organizations and other criminals that seek to exploit our nation's borders and threaten public safety in our communities."
Following their arrests in June, U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Swartwood, III ordered that ALLEN, GREEN and PAGE remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending trial. PERRY was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond. A court date will be set for the defendants' arraignments. Since the amount of cocaine involved is in excess of 5 kilograms, each of the drug charges carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life, to be followed by at least 5 years of supervised release and a fine up to $4 million. In addition, the misprision of a felony with which PERRY is charged carries a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The government is also seeking the forfeiture of the $215,000 in U.S. currency paid by ALLEN to the undercover agent.
The on-going investigation is being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Massachusetts State Police, the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pelgro, Chief of Sullivan's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Tobin of Sullivan's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit. (PRNewswire)
Airlines get warning on 'Open Skies' policy
By Prior Beharry
Minister of Works and Transport Franklin Khan cautioned yesterday that Caribbean airlines could find themselves at a serious disadvantage competing with US carriers under an "Open Skies" policy with the United States.
He made this comment to the media after delivering an address before the start of negotiations between Caricom and US teams at the Works and Transport Ministry at Richmond Street in Port of Spain. Khan explained that the 'Open Skies' agreement would allow US carriers to fly into the Caribbean and Caribbean carriers to fly into the US. But, he noted that this facility was only for countries with Category One status.
He said September 24 was the deadline for Trinidad to get certification under the new regulations. Khan added, "The Director of Civil Aviation has informed me that once Trinidad meets that deadline within six weeks, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) would come and make the final inspections and we really don't see a problem."
He said Suriname and Jamaica were the only two countries within Caricom that had Category One status and Jamaica, which has a bilateral 'Open Skies' agreement with the US, is also part of the negotiating team.
11 augustus 2004
U.S. Army General on Guyana visit
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MAJOR General Mason Whitney of the United States Army yesterday visited U.S. servicemen on the New Horizons 2004 exercise in Guyana.
He toured the rehabilitation centre clinic being constructed in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, under the joint training scheme with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
The soldiers assured the Major General that the structure is solid and that all work would be completed by September.
He told reporters that his visit has provided a great opportunity for the development of positive relations between the two countries.
He praised those building the centre for the great care they have taken to see the project completed thus far. He also had lots of praise for the hospitality of the Guyanese people. Also on the tour were GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Edward Collins and other senior officials.
Whitney arrived here Monday and is due to leave today. New Horizons 2004 Guyana is a joint overseas training exercise co-sponsored by the U.S. Southern Command in Miami, Florida and the GDF. The exercise includes three construction projects and two Medical Readiness Training Exercises.
10 augustus 2004
Stabroek
Maritime dispute with Suriname could take years to resolve and cost Guyana millions - AG
'UG law school could be built in a year,' four new senior counsel to be created
By John Mair in London
Attorney-General Doodnauth Singh opened up to a small audience in the UK last week on Guyana's legal dispute with Suriname over the offshore territory which the Canadian company CGX wants to explore for oil. He said the dispute, which Guyana took to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in late February of this year could take several years to resolve and prove very costly to the country in legal expenses alone.
The AG was addressing the Guyana Law Association in London whilst on a private visit to the UK. He recalled that he had spent his entire life cognizant of the Guyana/ Suriname border dispute when growing up in Number 78 Village on the Corentyne.
AG Singh thus came to the subject not as a naïf when taking over office from Charles Ramson in 2001: "The President asked me to come and retire to the AG's office," he joked. After that, he led the Guyana delegation in the negotiations with the Surinamese. These had gone smoothly apart from the fact that he wanted to separately discuss the three areas of dispute - the New River triangle, the Corentyne river and the offshore ownership but the Surinamese would not allow that. As he pointed out, all the disputed areas "seem to be triangular in shape." He was surprised when at their last meeting the Surinamese delegation, with whom he personally had very good relations, failed to agree on the minutes even after he had delayed departure by a day to allow the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elisabeth Harper, to do her best to broker a compromise.
Guyana had been left with no alternative but to seek redress from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The government's legal team-including former Attorney-General and Common-wealth Secretary-General Sir Shridath Ramphal - had thoroughly prepared the case even before he joined them. Some financial help had been forthcoming from CGX Inc, the Canadian concession holder who had been forcibly evicted from the disputed area by the Surinamese in June 2000.
They were still very hopeful of substantial oil finds. The AG was hopeful that the border dispute would be settled away from the costly, long-winded and tortuous chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
On more pressing legal matters in Guyana, AG Singh revealed that the pool of Senior Counsel - just 20 at the moment - might soon be topped up with "three or four" new SC's chosen from a shortlist of ten. In terms of recruitment at the bottom end of the profession, he revealed that the Cabinet was now actively considering a $20M plan to build a Law School on the UG campus. If that were approved it could be up and running "within a year".
About the perceived slowness of the legal system in hearing cases and getting redress, he put the blame fairly and squarely on Guyana's lawyers. "It never happened to my clients when I practiced. I would do four or five courts in a day." The AG also indicated that there might be some room for the productivity rate of some High Court judges to be addressed.
On regional legal matters, he was glad to see that the Caribbean Court of Justice would become operational in November but declared himself "disgusted" at some of the politicking which had gone on and was still going on around it. The committee which was responsible for the planning was simply too leaky for his liking. "Confidentiality is not what it should be in the Caribbean," he lamented. But on that matter too he was hopeful.
The GLA (UK) was set up to help the legal system in Guyana. It has already sent boxes of law books back to Guyana. These are currently with the Chief Justice awaiting distribution. A second container of law books is currently being assembled for shipment. Attorney-General Singh returns to office on August 16.
3 augustus 2004
Guyana in group to benefit from anti-terrorism support
GUYANA and other members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are in line for support from the United States for the regional anti-terrorism fight, the Organisation of American States (OAS) announced yesterday. A press release from the organisation in Washington said the U.S. Government will contribute US$945,000 to the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) to help fund training of customs and border officials, an aviation security training programme, and assessments to enhance border management capacity.
CICTE coordinates anti-terrorism efforts and strategies among OAS member countries. The U.S. donation will provide support for three programmes, according to the organisation. First, $420,000 will be allocated to enhance and supplement CICTE’s border management programmes and migration processes through on-site technical missions. These will focus on comprehensive assessments aimed at enhancing priority border management capacities for CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic, the press release said.
Second, $300,000 will be used to enhance and supplement CICTE’s aviation security programmes through the execution of follow-on courses to the Basic Airport Security and Security Instructor training for CARICOM states and the Dominican Republic. Finally, $225,000 will be allotted for training and technical assistance to candidates from customs and border agencies to promote greater integrity, professionalism and ethical behaviour in officials, the OAS said. The U.S. Ambassador to the OAS, John Maisto, said the contribution “reflects the government of the United States’ active interest and strong support for counter-terrorism efforts in the hemisphere, for furthering the CICTE enhancements to its work plan and for the global campaign against terrorism.”
STABROEK
Dummy package had been set up for delivery - court hears
Sunday, August 1st 2004
British customs officers had removed the cocaine they found in a coffin among a shipment of timber and replaced it with a dummy package, before allowing the delivery to take place, at which time they arrested seven men, reports said. The trial of six of the seven men charged with importing some 120 kilogrammes of cocaine into the United Kingdom, concealed in a consignment of mora logs is still underway a month after the hearing began at the Cardiff Crown Court.
The six currently on trial are: Lebert Barrows, a Jamaican national, whom prosecutors say travelled to Guyana to facilitate the shipment; Anthony Chambers; Joseph Salmon; Mohamed Shaheen and Milton Wilson. The seventh accused Michael Silcox is to be tried separately. There is a blackout on information in the UK about the case, since the same evidence is to be presented at Silcox's trial. Local police assisted in the investigation in Guyana and an officer from the Criminal Investigation Department who led the investigation testified at the trial. However, a senior police officer has said that until certain documentation is received from the British Police and Customs authorities the local investigations can go no further.
Stabroek News learnt that the prosecution has informed the court that the cocaine was contained in 100 packages concealed in a wooden coffin. The cocaine was discovered when the ship, the MV Antilles, docked at Felixstowe in the UK, where officers of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Department replaced it with dummy packages; it continued on to Newport, Wales for delivery to FTS International. The consignment was stored for a week before it was in part delivered to a unit rented in the name of City Properties with which Chambers, Salmon and Shaheen were associated.
The evidence given the court is that Barrows and Wilson, a nephew of Chambers, were arrested while unloading the coffin from the timber consignment. Silcox allegedly drove the vehicle which ferried the timber with the "cocaine" from FTS to the unit rented by City Properties. The court has also been told that Barrows travelled to Guyana to facilitate the shipment and left here after the MV Antilles sailed and arrived in the United Kingdom just before it did. He made several trips to Guyana, the last being on April 26, 2003 when he finalised the Antilles shipment.
The MV Antilles sailed from Guyana on May 8, and arrived in the United Kingdom on May 29. The consignment was addressed to FTS International and the consignor was A Mahazarally and Sons. The British and local police interviewed employees of this company about the circumstances under which it sold the mora logs that were shipped to FTS International. Before the shipment sent on the MV Antilles, the prosecution told the court that there was a dummy run using the MV Venezuela which left here on April 28 and which contained no drugs. That shipment was sent by Willems Timbers and the consignee was FTS International as well.
Following the discovery of the cocaine in the timber shipment, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Customs and Trade Administration tightened up on their inspection procedures for the export of logs. Timber shipments now have to be packed for export in the presence of a Customs Officer and sealed in his presence if being shipped in a closed container. The timber shipment in question was loaded on a flat rack container which has open sides.
The cocaine is said to have a street value of 8.4 million pounds sterling/$2.8 billion at the current exchange rate.