What Crew Members Say About Jelena

In a recent update from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Cypriot cargo ship MV DeltaDiep has been released after paying a hefty fine of G$12 million (approximately US$60,000). This decision allows the vessel's crew to continue their journey following the ship's detention due to the discovery of a significant quantity of cocaine. On January 6, authorities found 185 packages of the illicit drug hidden inside a 40-foot flat rack container when the ship arrived from Suriname, intending to load bauxite for delivery to Belgium. The fine was determined by the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur, in accordance with the Customs Act, Chapters 224-226. This action was taken after a Notice of Seizure on January 9, which was prompted by the narcotics detected on board the MV DeltaDiep. Legal representation for the vessel was handled by the law firm Cameron & Shepherd, who negotiated the fine over the course of a week, referencing a prior case involving the MV CFS Palamedes, which was fined $15 million in 2007 for cocaine possession. Initial assessments from the GRA estimated the street value of the seized cocaine at approximately G$800 million. However, updated evaluations revealed the drugs were worth around Euros 45,000, equivalent to G$2.1 billion. The Director of Public Prosecutions later advised against bringing any charges against the crew. The MV DeltaDiep, which embarked from the Netherlands and made a stop in Paramaribo, Suriname, is now free to resume its voyage.

As of January 8, the captain along with two crew members of the cargo ship 'Delta Diep' remain in custody following a significant drug bust that uncovered approximately 192.4 kilograms of cocaine. This substantial find has prompted ongoing investigations by local authorities. Meanwhile, one other crew member was released from custody on January 7, but it remains uncertain whether he, along with the seven remaining crew members, will be permitted to depart from Guyana in the near future. Additionally, the status of the 'Delta Diep' itself is still up in the air, as officials have not disclosed if they will take possession of the vessel or if it will be set free.

In a significant operation, Guyanese authorities, in conjunction with Suriname's law enforcement, have successfully intercepted approximately 120 kilograms of cocaine aboard the cargo ship 'Delta Diep.' The vessel, which had recently loaded a shipment of bauxite, was en route to Spain, The Netherlands, and Belgium when the illicit cargo was discovered. The street value of the cocaine is estimated to be around $10 million. The discovery was made possible thanks to crucial intelligence shared by Suriname’s Port Control Unit, prompting a collaborative effort from the Guyana Revenue Authority's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). The arrest occurred late on January 5, 2015, as the Delta Diep was departing Linde. Anti-drug agents intercepted the ship and subsequently transported the flat rack containing the drugs to the John Fernandes Limited container terminal, where numerous packets of the cocaine were extracted, weighed, and secured as evidence. The captain and several crew members have been taken into custody as the investigation continues.