-prosecution says more than 16 barrels may have been involved, records obtained from Scotiabank
Businessman Lyndale Lyles, a United States national, was yesterday remanded to prison after he pleaded not guilty to 11 charges relating to the alleged trafficking of cannabis, firearms and ammunition.
Lyles appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, where the charges were read to him. He denied each of the allegations.
The charges allege that between June and July 2026, Lyles knowingly imported firearms and ammunition from the United States without the required authorisation, while two of the charges relate to the alleged trafficking of cannabis.
The cannabis trafficking charges allege that Lyles trafficked 4.6 kilograms of cannabis on July 1, 2026, at Princes Street, Georgetown, and 32.75 kilograms of cannabis on July 14, 2026, at Muneshwers Limited, Water Street, Georgetown.
The firearm-related charges allege that between June 1 and June 30, 2026, Lyles imported several firearms without proper authorisation, including multiple pistols, an AR-style rifle and ammunition.
The firearms allegedly included Taurus Millennium G2 pistols, a Taurus 9mm pistol, Glock pistols, a SCCY pistol, and an AR-style rifle, which investigators said arrived in shipments from the United States at Muneshwers Limited Wharf and other locations in Georgetown.
Lyles was described in court as a businessman involved in real estate and apartment rentals. The court also heard that he is married and has 10 children.
His attorney, Bernard Da Silva, applied for bail, arguing that the evidence did not establish a connection between his client and the items that form the basis of the charges.
Da Silva told the court that the items were found in the possession of another person, who is also before the court, and argued that none of the documentation that resulted in the items arriving at Muneshwers Wharf bore Lyles’ name.
The attorney contended that the prosecution’s case was primarily based on statements made by another individual.
“The allegation is primarily based on who said what and who wants to save themselves,” Da Silva argued.
He further submitted that the charges currently before the court had no bearing or relevance to Lyles at this stage and challenged the prosecution to dispute that imported items cannot enter Guyana without the relevant documentation.
Da Silva said Lyles’ passports were already in the possession of CANU and asked the court to grant bail under any conditions it considered appropriate.
Addressing the prosecution’s anticipated argument that Lyles attempted to leave Guyana, the attorney said his client and his wife were travelling on a planned vacation when they were intercepted at the airport on July 2.
He argued that at the time, no wanted bulletin had been issued by either the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) or the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), and that Lyles had never been contacted by police regarding any investigation.
The attorney maintained that Lyles had been in custody since July 2 and that there was no risk in granting him bail.
However, prosecutor Darin Chan from SOCU and CANU prosecutor Nelson strongly objected to bail, arguing that Lyles poses a flight risk.
Chan told the court that Lyles is a United States national and is not a resident of Guyana.
The prosecutor argued that the risk of flight was not speculative, stating that the investigation so far has implicated Lyles and has also involved GRA officials and shipping agents.
Chan said investigators obtained records from Scotiabank, which form part of the evidence gathered during the investigation, and that the evidence points to what appears to be a transnational trafficking operation.
The prosecutor said the investigation covers the period October 2025 to 2026 and has identified more than 16 barrels connected to the operation, with some of those barrels already believed to be in circulation.
Chan further argued that if released, Lyles could be in a position to contact persons connected to the investigation, interfere with witnesses or tamper with evidence.
The prosecution requested three weeks to continue its investigation, telling the court that a significant amount of evidence still had to be processed.
Magistrate McGusty acknowledged that the matter remains under investigation and agreed to remand Lyles until August 7, 2026, when a further report will be provided to the court.
Meanwhile, co-accused Nicholas Singh also appeared before the court and pleaded not guilty to several firearm possession charges.
Singh, who was represented by attorney George Thomas, had his matter heard in camera as he is currently cooperating with investigators.
He was also remanded until August 7, 2026.
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