A 37-year-old man of Guyanese descent was arrested on Monday morning, April 14, on suspicion of smuggling a sheep from Guyana into Suriname via an unauthorized route.
According to police reports, the arrest was made around 09:15 a.m. during a routine check on the backtrack route at Abdul Ghani Madharweg in the Nickerie district. The suspect was intercepted while traveling on a passenger boat originating from Guyana.
During the inspection, officers discovered a ram with a brown-black coat onboard. Further investigation revealed that the animal had entered the country without undergoing the required veterinary inspection or obtaining official importation clearance.
The suspect told authorities that the sheep was a gift from a mosque in Guyana and was intended for use in a religious ceremony for his daughter. He claimed he was unaware of the restrictions and procedures related to animal importation.
At approximately 09:50 a.m., the man was formally arrested, and the animal was seized as evidence in the ongoing investigation. Following consultation with the Surinamese Public Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect was placed in custody.
Police have confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing.
