Guyana extradites fugitive to Canada

In a landmark development for international cooperation, Guyana has successfully extradited fugitive Harry Narine Rajkumar to Canada, marking a major step forward in bilateral efforts to combat transnational crime.

On Thursday, Rajkumar was handed over to Canadian authorities to face a series of serious criminal charges. This marks the first-ever extradition between the two nations, underscoring their growing commitment to upholding justice on a global scale.

Rajkumar, who had been on the run since May 2019 after fleeing Canada to evade law enforcement, was arrested in Guyana following an INTERPOL Red Notice. He had been wanted for attempted murder and aggravated assault, both serious offences under the Canadian Criminal Code. After his capture by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Rajkumar waived his right to an extradition hearing and agreed to return to Canada voluntarily.

His case was brought before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, where Rajkumar formally consented to the extradition request, paving the way for his transfer to Canadian authorities.

Leading the prosecution in Guyana were Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Lisa Cave, Treaty Officer Ms. Ormella Gladstone from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Sergeant Stephan Hinds from the Major Crimes Unit, with assistance from other law enforcement personnel.

This historic extradition marks a significant achievement in Guyana’s ongoing commitment to international law enforcement collaboration, ensuring that criminals cannot evade justice simply by crossing borders. It also lays the groundwork for further cooperation between Guyana and Canada in tackling cross-border criminal activity.