Former Health Minister Blackman arrested in New York for alleged illegal prescription of narcotic painkiller

Last Updated on Tuesday, 9 February 2016, 10:03 by Denis Chabrol

Dr. Noel Blackman.

United States Federal authorities arrested a former Minister of Health of Guyana, Noel Blackman who they suspect illegally prescribed vast amounts of oxycodone — 365,000 pills in 2015 — in a drug-dealing enterprise spanning three states.

Blackman was recently appointed to chair the Board of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The New York Newsday reported that Federal authorities arrested the Long Island doctor late Sunday at Kennedy Airport they

Agents took Noel Blackman, 68, into custody after they ordered a Guyana-bound jet taxiing for take off with Blackman aboard to return to an airport terminal.

The Herald Courier reported that federal agents were tipped off that the Guyana native planned to leave the country permanently and ordered a jet bound for the South American country to return as it was taxiing for takeoff.

Officials say $30,000 was stashed in the Far Rockaway doctor’s luggage.

Blackman was arraigned Monday in Central Islip on a charge of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
Records show he wrote 114 prescriptions in 2014 for about 3,800 oxycodone pills and nearly 2,500 prescriptions for about 365,000 pills last year.

His attorney declined to comment.

Blackman, a major partner in HBTV Channel Nine, served as Health Minister under the then People’s National Congress-led administration of then President Desmond Hoyte.