The Guyana Government announced the arrest of Guyanese fugitive, Kanand Ojha, in Queens, New York.
Ojha, who is originally from Meadow Bank on the East Bank of Demerara, is wanted in Guyana for the 2015 murder of male sex worker Noel Luther.
Luther was shot dead on Carmichael Street on the night of the 22nd July, 2015.
In a statement this afternoon, the Guyana Government said Law Enforcement Authorities in Queens, New York, including New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force consisting of US Marshals, members of Homeland Security and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), arrested Kanand Ojha this morning.
The Government said the arrest of Ojha is as a result of continuous collaboration and cooperation between the Government of Guyana through the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers and authorities in the United States of America under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters platform.
The statement added that over the years, Guyana and the U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies have strengthened their relationship, which has led to mutual cooperation in criminal investigations leading to the arrest of fugitives in both countries and their extradition to stand trial in the country where they have committed offences.
“This relationship will intensify in the future”, the Guyana Government said.
A wanted bulletin was first issued for Ojha in July, 2019 in relation to the killing the sex worker during a confrontation that Ojha and his friend, Ron Forde, had with the sex worker.
Forde was charged in connection with the murder and pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2017, leading to a 20 year jail sentence.
Ojha has been on the run since then. The Government did not indicate a timeline for his return to Guyana to face charges.
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