Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh confirm entrenched corruption at the highest levels of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control  updated its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list. It named the 37-year-old senior officer from Cane Grove, along with businessman Paul Daby Jr., 40—also known as “Daby Ramsuchit,” “Paul,” “Rondell,” and “Randell” of Georgetown; Mark Cromwell, 43, known as “Demon” and “Diamond” of Lot 40 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara and Lot 10 Buxton, ECD; and Randolph Duncan, 50, for alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Speaking at a PNCR press conference, Norton said the sanctions not only expose corruption within the GPF’s leadership but also reflect the People’s Progressive Party  government’s alleged protection of criminal enterprises. He called the situation a “national embarrassment.”

Norton also highlighted the lack of progress following the 4.4-tonne cocaine seizure in Matthews Ridge in September 2024. The operation, carried out by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), had been publicly hailed by the government as a significant success in the fight against transnational crime.

“Let us recall that when CANU seized 4.4 tonnes of cocaine in Matthews Ridge last September, the government made grand pronouncements that investigations were ongoing. It boasted about its commitment to tackling transnational crimes. Yet, no one has since been arrested, let alone charged,” Norton said.

He accused the government of using the claim of awaiting further information from U.S. authorities as a pretext for inaction. “The government’s oft-repeated statement that it will request details from U.S. authorities to facilitate its own investigation has become a national embarrassment. It is a tired excuse and a clear indication of complicity,” Norton added.

The PNCR leader also reiterated his party’s longstanding criticism of the Guyana Police Force, asserting that the institution is incapable of conducting legitimate investigations due to corruption within its ranks.

“We have regularly said that the Guyana Police Force, as presently constituted, cannot investigate crime because it is itself a criminal enterprise,” he stated.

Meanwhile, at a separate press conference on Friday, Executive Member of the Alliance For Change, Dr. Shamir Ally, echoed similar sentiments and called for international intervention. (Kaieteur News)