DEA agents nab Trinidadian for heroin, cocaine deals in US

EXTRADITION proceedings have started against a Trinidadian arrested by police and agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on charges of trafficking heroin and cocaine.

On Wednesday, Shurlan Jason Guppy, 47, who was arrested at Ascot Road, Goodwood Park, Westmoorings on Tuesday, appeared before deputy Chief Magistrate Adrian Darmanie on an extradition warrant.

Guppy has addresses in Port of Spain and Point Cumana in the west. Local and US enforcement officials have said he was deported from the US twice.

The US is requesting Guppy’s extradition to Pennsylvania to face charges of trafficking US$1 million in heroin and cocaine to that state.

A statement from the US Embassy on Wednesday said Guppy is charged in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Guppy, who carries the aliases Shurlan Gorin, Raphael Oquendo, Christopher Hughes Matthews, Marc Roman, and Chalkie, also faces local charges of cocaine, firearm and ammunition possession, allegedly arising out of the execution of a search warrant by Snr Supt Smith of the Southern Division, on Tuesday.

It is alleged that the police discovered a gun and ammunition in the living room of a house at Ascot Road and cocaine in a Jeep Rubicon.

Newsday understands Darmanie issued the extradition arrest warrant on September 21, pursuant to the request from the US for Guppy’s extradition to face a four-count indictment for the cocaine and heroin trafficking offences, which allegedly took place over a period of time.

A record of case and the authority to proceed, crucial aspects of extradition proceedings, will be advanced to the court by the requesting state. Intelligence sources said Guppy owns a speedboat and claims to be unemployed but in the process of relocating a clothing business.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Guppy’s attorneys, Wayne Sturge and Mario Merritt, were expected to apply for bail. However, since the police were unable to provide a criminal record tracing, the matter was adjourned to Friday for arguments on bail.

Already, Senior Counsel Ravi Rajcoomar, who is representing the US, has indicated that the requesting state would object to bail. Appearing with Rajcoomar for the US are Netram Kowlessar, Radon Watts and director of the Central Authority in the Office of Attorney General Graham McClean.

The local charges would have to be stayed if Guppy is extradited to the US.

In its statement, the US Embassy said its DEA agents assisted the TT Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) in the investigation which led to Guppy’s arrest on Tuesday.

The embassy said during the early-morning execution of an arrest warrant, agents allegedly found a firearm and a kilogramme of cocaine at a residence.

In a separate release, the police service said Southern Division Task Force (SDTF) officers “seized a firearm and narcotics at the residence of a suspect wanted abroad in connection with several offences.”

The police release said during an intelligence-led exercise, at about 6.15 am on Tuesday, SDTF officers went to the Western Division, where they executed a search warrant at a house at Goodwood Park.

“While searching a vehicle on the premises, the officers found a quantity of cocaine. A further search of the vehicle also uncovered a C22LR firearm with two rounds of ammunition.

“The officers also executed an extradition warrant for the suspect, who goes by several aliases, and is wanted in the US on several drug-related charges.”

The police said the exercise was co-ordinated by Snr Supt Smith, ASP Phillip and Insp Ramlogan and supervised by Sgt Joseph and Sgt Mason of the SDTF, and W/Cpl Plenty and Cpl Narine.

The embassy said its DEA agents and TOCU have been working side by side for almost 20 years.

Of the arrest, US Ambassador Candace Bond said, “I am proud of the painstaking work the US Embassy’s DEA agents do every single day to help end drug trafficking and to strengthen citizen security for the people of TT.

“DEA agents working closely with members of TT law enforcement act as a force multiplier.

“This arrest, following months of investigation and close collaboration between DEA, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and TT’s TOCU, is another sterling example of our close partnership, and yet more evidence that the US is TT’s most reliable friend and partner in the world.”

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said, “US DEA agents in Philadelphia and at the US Embassy started working on this case with us in 2020, culminating in this major arrest and extradition order.

“I am gratified that our excellent co-operation has led to this arrest. We count on our American partners in law enforcement to assist us in making TT safer for our communities.”