Police hunting businessman in airstrip case

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56535937
Police hunting businessman in airstrip case
SN, Saturday, December 29th 2007

As investigations continue into the illegal airstrip which was
discovered by the army two weeks ago in the Corentyne area, police
yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for a Crabwood Creek businessman who
is allegedly connected to a bulldozer that was found on the airfield
along with a burnt aircraft.

The businessman, 35-year-old Mool Persaud Maniram also known as
'Francis', is said to be the owner of a logging concession in the
Crabwood Creek, Corentyne area. Police in a wanted bulletin said that
the businessman's last known address is Lot 72 Crabwood Creek,
Corentyne Berbice and he is about 5 feet 5 inches, of medium build and
fair in complexion. Anyone with information that may lead to the man's
arrest is asked to contact police on telephone numbers 225-6411,
226-6978, 225-8196, 225-3650, 226-1326, 225-7625 or 911 or the nearest
police station.

Stabroek News made efforts to contact the businessman's relatives
yesterday to no avail. Sources in the Crabwood Creek area said that in
addition to Maniram five other businessmen on the Corentyne are
reportedly linked to the illegal airstrip which was set up to traffic
cocaine and conduct other illicit trade. Additionally, the source said
that at least two businessmen based in Georgetown area are also linked
to the strip.

Transport Minister, Robeson Benn on Thursday received a copy of the
report from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on its
investigation into the torched aircraft. He however said that there
were no immediate clues as to where the plane came from and who owns
it. Benn told Stabroek News that while there was no clear-cut
information as to the origin and ownership of the aircraft, there were
enough clues for the GCAA to go out and investigate. He said that the
GCAA would be making contact with its counterparts overseas to verify
the origin of the Czech Republic-manufactured Let 410 turboprop
aircraft which carried a Venezuelan flag when it was found. The Guyana
Defence Force had seized the illegal airstrip with the burnt-out
aircraft, along with a still-smouldering all-terrain vehicle and a
bulldozer three weeks ago. The military had said that the airstrip was
constructed to facilitate the transshipment of narcotics and other
illegal activities. The airfield was destroyed after a GDF pilot
spotted it during a routine flight in the area.

When the airfield was seized the burnt-out aircraft appeared to have
been severely damaged after attempting to take off. The airstrip, some
3600 feet in length and 375 feet in width was longer than the Ogle
runway and wider than the Timehri runway. After seizing the airstrip
GDF troops conducted patrols and discovered a 25-ft trail that led for
some two miles to the Corentyne River. Questions have been raised about
the quality of the surveillance in that area considering the amount of
clearing that had been done and the apparent local collusion.