Wanted Guyanese man waived rights, handed over to Surinamese police- Solicitor General

Last Updated on Friday, 18 July 2025, 21:07 by Writer

– Legal battle looms to secure suspect’s return

A Guyanese man, who was wanted by Surinamese police for alleged drugs trafficking, opted not to subject himself to extradition proceedings but handed over to the law enforcement of that South American neighbour, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke told the man’s lawyer.

“Mr. David stated that he was willing to relinquish his rights in Guyana. He also indicated that he was aware of being wanted in Suriname and, given that his wife operates his business in Suriname, he would prefer not to go through the formal extradition process. Instead, he expressed a willingness to return to Suriname to address the matter there,” Mr Hawke told Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd in response to the latter’s letter, captioned “unlawful apprehension and removal of Mr. Rayman David – breach of extradition law and due process” to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Mr Raymond Okaan Alder, also known as Raymond Okaan David, alleged that he was kidnapped by police and handed over to their Surinamese counterparts.

Mr Hawke said the wanted man refused to have this decision recorded in writing or through audio-visual means.

But Solicitor General Hawke said that after the wanted man said he would prefer not to undergo extradition proceedings, the GPF invoked its “mutual assistance cooperation” and took him to the Guyana-Suriname ferry where he was placed into the custody of Surinamese police. “Please be informed that the Guyana Police Force has mutual assistance cooperation arrangement in criminal matters with several counterpart Law Enforcement Agencies in Caricom, North America and beyond which provide for the process embarked upon by the Guyana Police Force in the instant case. These facilities have been invoked and used reciprocally over the years,” the Solicitor General said.

In November 2022, Surinamese police had issued a wanted bulletin for Alder/David because he was “suspected of having been guilty of participation in a criminal organization and Violation of the Narcotics Act.”

The suspect was arrested on June 18, 2025 and, according to Mr Hawke, informed of his right to a lawyer. The following day, he was escorted to the Guyana-Suriname Ferry where he was handed over to a member of the Suriname Police Corps.

Mr Hawke told Attorney-at-Law Todd that, “in the circumstances, each and every allegation of unconstitutionality, unlawfulness and illegality made in your letter is hereby strenuously denied.”

At a news conference on Thursday, Dr Todd said Mr David was informed that he was wanted for alleged murder in Suriname. The lawyer said the suspect was transported to the Springlands Police Station from where six Surinamese police officers took him to the ferry. Dr Todd said, based on what transpired, his client was kidnapped. “We are dealing with a case of extradition but because of the manner in which this is done, because of the manner in which this was done, we are clearly dealing with a case of kidnapping,” he said.

The lawyer said no law exists for the Surinamese police to enter Guyana and “exercise that lawful authority of arrest in this jurisdiction”.

His legal team intends to seek High Court declarations that Mr David was removed from Guyana illegally, should be returned to Guyana and be compensated. The lawsuit would be filed against the State, Minister of Home Affairs, Commissioner of Police and Guyanese police officers.

Guyanese and Surinamese lawyers are collaborating to seek redress.