I have been asked by several media representatives to comment on recent statements made by Mr. Jagdeo regarding a briefing that was provided by US Law Enforcement Agents in 2015, and wish to only say the following –
- In 2015, there was a briefing given, of a very sensitive nature, to myself and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, about an ongoing investigation, in the US, in which Guyanese were supposedly involved. This investigation had started a few years prior, which was before the coalition’s term of office commenced, and it was ongoing. I continued to receive briefings on various matters during my tenure as Minister.
- The primary concern shared by the US agents in 2015, was the belief that gold, mined in Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia, was being illegally shipped from, and through Guyana, to the US. Most concerning, was the belief that the proceeds of the sale of this gold were financing activities that were very inimical to the security and interests of the United States. This was not an investigation into corruption only.
- The agents who shared that information informed us that they were now authorized to share such information, at the time that they were doing so, because in the past, there were serious concerns about confidences being kept and sensitive investigations being compromised by government of Guyana officials.
- We were also informed that local law enforcement agencies were being, or were to be, briefed as well.
- The sharing of that intelligence with us was just that, a briefing, and we were not asked to provide any information, or to take any action on the Guyana side.
- I asked whether I could speak publicly about the numbers that were disclosed and was told that I could.
- Sometime afterwards, the Ministry of the Presidency ordered and initiated its own intelligence-led operation, with a unique sobriquet, to curb gold smuggling and transnational crime. I am reliably informed that this operation was shut down within 5 days of the new administration taking office in August, 2020.
- The successful efforts of the Gold Board, and others, to raise the gold declarations during the period 2015-2020, speak for themselves.
Smuggling, and particularly, gold smuggling, is not a new phenomenon. However, the recent concerns of the US government appear to be focused on the period 2019-2024. Further, it would appear that the current sanctions arose out of a separate investigation that ran for 2+ years; just prior to the announcements of sanctions being made (2022-2024).
One only hopes that the US government will now feel comfortable and secure in sharing ‘Top Secret’ information about ongoing operations and investigations of this nature, with our government, as they did before.
Yours truly,
Raphael Trotman