While seven persons have been questioned in connection with the discovery of a Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) vessel in the Waini River, no one has been charged in connection with the discovery but Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee believes the discovery will send a strong signal drug to traffickers, both in and out of Guyana, that law enforcement agencies are on the alert and are very active.
The vessel has been brought to the city and on Monday it was inspected by the Home Affairs Minister in the company of the Head of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, James Singh.
The SPSS vessel which authorities believe was built in Guyana and was going to be used to ferry drugs out of Guyana was discovered last month at a campsite in the Waini River, North West District, Region One. in August, The Customs Anti Narcotics Unit and a Guyana Defence Force Special Forces unit led the investigation and made the discovery. 
According to CANU, from all appearances, the vessel has a capacity to accommodate a crew of about four to five people and four to six tonnes of cocaine.
CANU’s Head, James Singh said more persons are to be questioned in connection with the SPSS vessel and investigations are still ongoing.
“These semi-submersible vessels are built for one reason and one reason only and that is to transport drugs, mainly cocaine. This vessel was more than like going to Europe or Africa not the US…the camp itself has been there for at least five months based on the materials found,” Singh said.
The odometer reading revealed that the vessel travelled for only three hours and that includes a test run conducted in the Waini River by the law enforcement agencies to see the maximum speed.
The top speed of the vessel when empty is about 10-12 knots, while when fully laden it has an average speed is six to eight knots.
This information, along with other evidence found at the camp site, has led investigators to convincingly conclude that the vessel was constructed in Guyana. The fuel and fiber glass material of which the vessel is made were all imported from another country, only the food stuff found at the camp site was local.
“This is based on us sharing information with experts, persons who have seized vessels like this before… this now moves us beyond just transshipment,” Singh said.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency is also assisting with the investigations.
Filed: 9th September, 2014
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