Drug dealer’s case against AG dismissed

Khan, a convicted drug trafficker, now serving a four and half year sentence in a US Federal Prison, was nabbed at Piarco Airport by US military officials during an early morning sting operation.

According to reports, Khan went to Surinam in June of that year.

He was hauled before a Surinamese magistrate, who deported him to Guyana via Trinidad, on June 29, 2006.

However, while the aircraft was on the ground at Piarco that same day, US soldiers stormed the aircraft around 5am, and took Khan away.

He was subsequently placed on a military aircraft, and taken to the U.S. where he pleaded guilty to several crimes.

Khan sued TT’s Attorney General, and Immigration Officer, Keith King on the grounds that the two conspired, and acted together with the Surinamese Government, and the US military, to abduct him.

Khan had brought a similar action against the Central Authority, David West, and Immigration Officer Steve Sookram, but later he withdrew the matter.

Michael Quamina represented the AG, and officer King, while Odai Ramischand appeared for Khan.

After hearing submissions yesterday, Justice Kokaram dismissed the action against the AG, and King on the grounds that, the matter was of only academic importance. The judge also said, whatever was his ruling, it would be of no consequence since Khan was already serving a sentence in a US Prison, and could not be brought back by an order of the local court.

In a New York District Federal Court last year, Khan pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine, witness tampering, and gun-running.

During the hearings at the Federal Court, Special Agent Cassandra Jackson of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in an affidavit said, “Khan was ultimately able to control the cocaine industry in Guyana, in large part, because he was backed by a paramilitary squad that would murder, threaten, and intimidate others at Khan’s directive.”

She also said, “Khan’s enforcers committed violent acts, and murders on his orders that were directly in furtherance of Khan’s drug trafficking conspiracy.”

Khan entered a plea bargain after being sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is now serving a discounted sentence of four and half years.