Durban St Resident Charged by SOCU for Illegally Exporting Gold

Ivan Anthony Scipio, a 52-year-old painter from D’Urban Street, Georgetown, has been charged with exporting gold without a licence. The charge was brought against Scipio by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

On July 3, 2024, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (Narcotics Branch), in collaboration with officers from the Guyana Revenue Authority, seized several pieces of gold jewellery and raw gold from Scipio, who holds U.S. citizenship, while he was attempting to board a flight to New York, USA. Scipio failed to make a customs declaration and did not produce the necessary licences to legally export the gold, which was valued at GY$6,787,569.

According to a police report, investigations revealed that Scipio has allegedly been involved in this smuggling racket for some time, with evidence suggesting he had previously made several exports without being caught.

Scipio appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court on July 25, 2024. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Bail was granted in the sum of $800,000, with the condition that Scipio reports to SOCU on the last Friday of every month. The case has been adjourned until August 19, 2024.

SOCU continues its investigation into possible money laundering activities related to this case.