Customs Officer admits to taking bribe for cocaine-in-mail

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

A Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officer was Monday handed over to the police after admitting to collecting US$1000 to pack cocaine in mail bound for New York while being grilled by internal investigators, the tax collection agency said in a statement.

GRA said its “effective” surveillance camera system caught the alleged actions of the Customs Officer, who was stationed at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC).

The Authority said an internal investigation was immediately launched after reports surfaced across the media that 644 grams of cocaine was found in mail bound for New York on a Caribbean Airlines flight.

Commissioner-General of the GRA Mr. Khurshid Sattaur said that the officer actions are a clear breach of the organization’s Standard Operating Procedure and that the entity would work on putting more robust systems in place to weed out corrupt elements.  He noted that officers fail to realize that they have a responsibility to act with integrity and protect the image of the organisation, rather than work to tarnish it.

Mr. Sattaur reiterated that the GRA would not condone corrupt individuals whether officials or taxpayers. He said the GRA would do all within its power to stamp out corruption.