OFAC-sanctioned alleged Colombian drug trafficker arrested in Guyana

Last Updated on Thursday, 6 November 2025, 20:29 by Writer

A Colombian man, who was sanctioned by the United States (U.S.), along with a serving Guyanese police officer and two other Guyanese, was arrested while travelling in a bus heading to Lethem, police said on Thursday.

Police said that Yeison Andres Sanchez Vallejo was intercepted on on Tuesday November 4 aboard a Lethem-bound minibus at the Kurupukari police checkpoint as part of routine security screening procedures. During the process, a passenger – later identified as a 33-year-old Colombian national – was found to be in possession of a passport bearing the immigration stamp “RLL” (Refused Leave to Land).

“Subsequent checks revealed that the individual, identified as Yeison Andres Sanchez Vallejo is reportedly among persons sanctioned by the United States of America in relation to drug trafficking activities,” the Guyana Police Force said.

Police said the foreign national was immediately arrested and is presently in police custody assisting investigators.

Mr Sanchez Vallejo, Guyana Police Force Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh, Guyanese Paul “Randell” Daby Jr of 127 D’Aguiar Park, Georgetown; former policeman Mark “Demon” Cromwell of Lot 40 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara and Lot 10 Buxton, East Coast Demerara; Guyanese-Venezuelan Randolph “Rudolph” Duncan, and another Colombian Manuel Gutierrez Salazar were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for their alleged role in narco-trafficking.

Mr Sawh was the Commander for Region One (Barima-Waini) last September when a joint operation by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) unearthed 4.4 tonnes of cocaine buried underground near an illegal airstrip on the outskirts of Mabaruma in late August, 2024.

Mr Sawh remains on leave.