The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has secured the committal of Terrence Williams to stand trial in the High Court for the offence of Money Laundering.
On Monday 8th June, 2026, Magistrate Wanda Fortune, sitting at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court, committed Williams to stand trial in the High Court in relation to a charge instituted under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act.
The charge alleges that on or about Monday, 21st March 2022, Terrence Williams and others were Store Attendants employed by the Ministry of Health’s Material Management Unit (MMU) drug bond, situated at 1st Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. They had unhindered access to pharmaceutical and testing kits stored at the bond. Between January 2021 and November 2022, they stole a quantity of pharmaceutical and testing kits from the bond which they sold and used the proceeds to enrich themselves.
As a result, the matter was reported to the Golden Grove Police Station and subsequently to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
Terrence Williams and others were contacted by the police at the drug bond where their persons and motor cars were searched. In Terrence Williams’ motor car, police found four million five hundred and eighty thousand dollars ($ 4,580,000), Guyana currency and five thousand seven hundred and sixty dollars ($ 5,760) US currency along with a 380 pistol, and thirty-one rounds of .380 ammunition, two rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Terrence Williams was arrested. The firearm, ammunition and cash mentioned were lodged as investigations continued. He was however charged and convicted with possession of arms and ammunition with licence.
The Audit Office of Guyana was called in and conducted a special audit at the drug bond, covering the period 1st January 2021 to November 2022 where it was discovered that $343,808,000.00 Guyana currency in drugs and testing kits were missing from the said Ministry of Health Management Unit Bond, Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
As the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) continued investigations, Williams was charged with Money Laundering Pursuant to AML/CFT Act Cap. 10:11 in that he acquired, possessed or controlled cash amounting to approximately GYD $7,489,543, together with foreign currency, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the said cash represented, in whole or in part, the proceeds of crime.
Following the committal, Williams was granted bail in the sum of GYD $500,000 and was ordered to report to SOCU once every month pending the hearing and determination of the matter in the High Court.
Williams was represented by Attorney-at-Law Eden Corbin. SOCU was represented by Prosecutors, Attorneys-at-Law Darin Chan, David Braithwaite, and DSP Neville Jeffers.
SOCU remains committed to investigating and prosecuting suspected money laundering and proceeds of crime offences, and will continue to advance matters of this nature before the courts in keeping with Guyana’s anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism framework.
(SOCU PRESS RELEASE)