Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Drug gang linked to Roger Khan on trial in Suriname

Friday, January 12, 2007

by: Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: A court in Suriname this week resumed the trial of several suspects connected with controversial businessman Shaheed Roger Khan, who currently is standing trial in the United States of America on drug trafficking charges.

The suspects, including another Guyanese businessman, were captured in June 2006 in Paramaribo in a drug bust that netted over 200 kilos cocaine.

In this case presided over by judge Iwan Rasoelbaks, Surinamese entrepreneur Steve Douglas (51) is the main suspect. According to court documents, Douglas, owner of a popular hunting and fishing gear shop, had organised several drug shipments from Guyana to Suriname.

Two suspects, Prawien P. and Guyanese national Radesh R., gave statements before the court, alleging that another Guyanese businessman, only identified as ‘Black’, who, according to them is a drug lord in Guyana, had ties with Roger Khan and initiator of cocaine shipments to Suriname. The drugs were shipped to Douglas, while drug mule Prawien P. would deliver the cocaine to a Surinamese drug kingpin just west of the capital Paramaribo.

Prawien told the bench that he participated in the drug ring because of financial troubles. He would receive US$8,000 for his cooperation.

According to both suspects, who in this week’s session gave evidence as witnesses, they were involved in at least three large cocaine shipments. Prawien stated that for the first two successful deliveries he received a total of US$400,000, which he handed over to Radesh, who subsequently delivered the cash to Black in Guyana. Both men told the court that they were present at meetings with Black and other individuals to discuss cocaine transactions.

The trial has been adjourned until January 29.

When the gang was busted on June 15, 2005, police discovered 109 parcels totaling 109 kilos in Prawien's home. The rest of the cocaine was seized in a car near the house where Roger Khan and his three bodyguards were nabbed.

Two weeks after his arrest, Khan was expelled and, en route to his native Guyana, was intercepted by US drug officials in Trinidad and Tobago and whisked away to the US to stand trial before a Brooklyn court. His bodyguards were deported to Guyana several weeks ago.

Print Page