Top Cop slams Deputy Commissioner Karimbaksh’s obstruction of “lawful” stop and search
May 10 2026
Following an incident involving Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Fizal Karimbaksh, who reportedly intervened during a lawful anti-crime stop carried out by ranks on the ground, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken has declared that senior officers cannot arbitrarily interfere in frontline anti-crime operations, warning that any intervention outside established procedures and the chain of command raises serious concerns for the integrity of policing operations.
Speaking during the Police Round-up programme aired earlier today on the Guyana Police Force’s social media platforms, the Police Commissioner confirmed that the matter is under active investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which has been tasked with examining every aspect of the operation.
“Senior officers may intervene in anti-crime operations, but any intervention must be based on situational awareness, and following established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),” Commissioner Hicken stated.
In a pointed remark during the programme, the Commissioner warned that, “This intervention is concerning because it appears to have without verification and outside the chain of command.”
The incident, which has triggered widespread public scrutiny, first surfaced after BIG Smith News Watch released video footage showing ranks conducting an anti-crime operation involving a white Vezel motorcar with heavily tinted windows and an obscured registration plate.
According to reports, after the vehicle was stopped, the female occupant handed her cellphone to the officers, the screen displaying the name “Fazil”.
On the line was Karimbaksh, who reportedly identified himself by name and rank before instructing the officers to halt the operation and release the woman.
The woman reportedly identified herself as a police officer attached to SOCU.
The revelation that a senior officer allegedly intervened in an active anti-crime operation without first fully engaging or verifying information with the ranks on the ground has ignited concern over operational discipline and the independence of law enforcement officers carrying out lawful duties.
The Guyana Police Force later reviewed the footage and reportedly concluded that “the rank was acting lawfully.”
Hicken also reaffirmed that anti-crime officers are legally empowered to stop and search vehicles during intelligence-led operations, dismissing suggestions that only traffic ranks can carry out such stops.
The Commissioner stressed that the Guyana Police Force’s strategic plan places heavy emphasis on professionalism, accountability, and adherence to procedure — principles now at the center of an investigation that has cast an uncomfortable spotlight on authority and internal conduct within the Force.
