A Trinidadian who was detained in September by US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers and police on suspicion of smuggling heroin and cocaine into the country has once more been denied bail.
Shurlan Jason Guppy, 47, recently appeared before Magistrate Kerri Honore- regarding local charges of possessing a firearm, ammunition, and cocaine. The charges stemmed from items that were purportedly discovered at Guppy’s Ascot Road rental and his Jeep Rubicon. Guppy was arrested on September 26 at Ascot Road, Goodwood Park, Westmoorings.
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Eleven accusations of heroin and cocaine trafficking are being pursued against Guppy in the US. November 27 is the scheduled start date of his extradition trial.
Guppy was represented by lawyer Wayne Sturge at a recent hearing. State representative Danielle Thompson was the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions.
In the extradition proceedings, the US Government, as the requesting state, had a monitoring brief from Senior Counsel Ravi Rajcoomar, lawyers Netram Kowlesar, Radon Dalrymple-Watts, and Director of the Central Authority in the Office of the Attorney General, Graeme McClean.
Guppy’s bail was refused in September by Adrian Darmanie, the Chief Magistrate in the interim.
Darmanie issued an extradition warrant on September 21, which led to Guppy’s detention.
In order to prosecute Guppy for allegedly smuggling heroin and cocaine worth US$1 million into Pennsylvania, the US is asking for his extradition.
In a statement following his apprehension, the US Embassy declared that Guppy faced charges from the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The US Embassy claimed in a statement that the T&T Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) received assistance from its DEA officers in the inquiry that resulted in Guppy’s detention.
The police dept claimed in a different statement that Guppy was taken into custody by the Southern Division Task Force.
