Tampa, Florida – In a major blow to Caribbean narcotics traffickers, a federal jury has found Yugool Persaud (61, Guyana) and Desmond Wilson (54, Guyana) guilty of violating the U.S. Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. The two men are facing a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement officers on board the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship WAVE KNIGHT observed a suspicious fishing vessel, the MISS TIFFANY, transiting a known drug trafficking corridor in the Caribbean Sea. The MISS TIFFANY began evasive maneuvers and jettisoned white bales overboard when the WAVE KNIGHT called over the radio.
U.S. Coast Guard boarding teams recovered 1,265 kilograms of marijuana from the jettison fields, boarded the MISS TIFFANY, and detained Persaud and Wilson. The men were turned over to special agents from Panama Express Strike Force. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking in the region.
The Panama Express Strike Force (PANEX) is a federally approved Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) consisting of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Coast Guard, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Operation Panama Express currently targets South American-based drug trafficking organizations responsible for smuggling drugs to the United States and elsewhere for distribution. The success of this operation is a testament to the dedication and expertise of law enforcement agencies working together to disrupt and dismantle these complex organizations.
Persaud and Wilson were indicted on September 5, 2013, and their sentencing is scheduled for February 20, 2014. This case is a significant victory for the people of Florida and the United States, and it serves as a reminder of the harsh consequences for those who engage in narcotics trafficking.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Meyer and Assistant United States Attorney Shauna Hale.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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