Three serving members of the Guyana Police Force were remanded to prison yesterday after appearing before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on charges of stealing a quantity of cocaine from the West Ruimveldt Police Station.

The accused, identified as Constable Grenville Harris, Corporal Floyd Pellew, and Corporal Latchman Singh, were jointly charged with the theft of 400 grams of cocaine, valued at $360,000. The alleged incident occurred on March 13 while all three were stationed at the West Ruimveldt Police Station. Singh, who was attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, also faced a separate charge of assault from an unrelated incident.

According to court proceedings, the theft came to light when senior officers discovered discrepancies in the evidence storage. The seal on a storage box had been broken, and four parcels of narcotics were missing. CCTV footage reportedly showed Corporal Pellew removing the drugs from the evidence box and handing them to Singh and Harris.

Prosecutors objected to bail, arguing that the officers had interfered with witnesses and obstructed the course of justice. The court was told that the men remain employed by the Guyana Police Force and have not been suspended or dismissed.

Defence attorneys for the accused challenged the prosecution’s case, questioning the nature of the substance allegedly stolen and the risk of witness tampering. They argued that the officers had previously complied with the investigation while on self-bail and maintained their innocence.

Despite these arguments, Magistrate Fabayo Azore denied bail and remanded all three officers until their next court appearance on May 14. In the separate assault charge, Singh pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

The case has sparked concern about the integrity of evidence handling within the police force and has prompted calls for stricter oversight and accountability. The investigation remains ongoing.