Vernon Paul was never a DEA agent

Vernon Paul, the man claiming to have information on the planting of cocaine and missiles at Sadiq Baksh’s home, and who claims to be a former agent of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in the US, has never worked with the DEA or, for that matter, for the US government. Robert Skinner, Information Adviser at the US Embassy, yesterday stated categorically that Paul “has never been an employee of the US government. He (Paul) has come to the DEA’s attention due to his local criminal record.” National Security Minister Martin Joseph told Parliament yesterday that the information provided by Paul to two investigating officers was not helpful in making a determination on how cocaine and missiles were found at Baksh’s home. In a statement in the House of Representatives on the issue, Joseph revealed that on December 12, 2005, Vernon Paul attempted to contact him at the Ministry of National Security “ostensibly to provide me with information that he felt I needed to know.”

Joseph said that he deliberately did not meet Paul because he knew of Paul. “He is known to us in security reports,” he said. Joseph stated, however, that because he was aware of the subject on which Paul wanted to speak, I ensured that Paul spoke to a senior law enforcement official at the Ministry of National Security. Saying that Paul had left numbers where he could be contacted, Joseph said he subsequently had the Commissioner of Police contact Paul and arrangements were made to have two senior investigators fly to Caracas to interview him. The officers were originally due to go to Caracas on December 14, but there were flight problems and they eventually left on December 21. The two investigating officers met Paul at the Marriot Caracas, where extensive discussions took place.

“However, it turned out that the information provided by Mr Paul to the investigating officers, I was advised, did not advance the investigation. Mr Paul did not provide detailed information. I understand that he gave limited information and inquired about his protection if he is to support the police in their investigation,” Joseph said. The minister said Paul then promised to send three detailed notarised statements, one from him and two from Venezuelan nationals he claimed could have supported the allegations that he had made. “I am advised by the Commissioner of Police that on January 17, 2006, his office received envelopes purportedly sent from Vernon Paul. The envelopes contained two unsigned statements. I am advised that when the discussions took place with Mr Paul on December 21, he produced a statement dated April, 2005, bearing his signature.

While he admitted the signature was his, he denied the contents of the statement, claiming that his signature was electronically placed on the document,” Joseph stated. The minister said that on the basis of this, the Police Commissioner held a press conference at 2 pm where he provided information “which I am not able to provide here because, as you know, investigative matters are discharged by the police.” Joseph said that there was additional information which Government had, but could not disclose. All he was prepared to say was that Government was “fully cognizant of activities and actions that are designed to compromise the security and safety of this State, and this Government will do nothing that will allow persons who are bent on compromising the security and safety of this country to achieve this end.”  (See page 13)