Mark Cromwell known as ‘Demon’ or ‘Diamond’ – sanctioned on Thursday by the United States – was arrested on Wednesday for an alleged shooting incident at Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Cromwell, of Lot 40 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, was arrested and taken into custody at the Cove and John Police Station. This newspaper understands that two firearms were retrieved. The victim was shot several times in the leg.
However, the Guyana Police Force is yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, despite multiple inquiries. Mark Ramotar, head of the Force’s Corporate Communications Unit, has not responded to several questions posed about the press statement or any details related to the matter.
On Thursday, Cromwell was sanctioned by the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). He was described as an ex-policeman and a violent drug trafficker and associate of Paul Daby Jr, who was also sanctioned by the US on Thursday. Cromwell is wanted by police for his alleged involvement in the 2024 abduction of a former policeman.
OFAC lists his addresses as Lot 40 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, Guyana, and Lot 10 Buxton, East Coast Demerara, and gives his date of birth as 29th March, 1982.
Police issued two wanted bulletins for him in relation to the May 7, 2024, kidnapping of former policeman, Delon Alexander, called ‘Portmore’ of Buxton, East Coast Demerara. It is unclear what efforts were made to have him arrested.
Portmore was abducted in Buxton last year when he left home to purchase pastries and bread. Eyewitness had fingered Cromwell as one of the four men who had placed him in a car and drove off with him, not before shooting him in the legs and telling him that “the boss man want see you.”
In 2023, Cromwell assaulted a police traffic officer. He was arrested and charged with assault with intent to prevent lawful apprehension, abusive language, and disorderly behaviour. He appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Russell Liverpool, where the charges were read to him. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had stated that Cromwell was arrested at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, while attempting to flee the country. Bail was refused due to the gravity of the case and he was remanded until May 17, 2023.
The OFAC press release said that as a result of Thursday’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.
“In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.
“Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
“The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC’s guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List”.
Thursday’s actions were a result of an Executive Order from the Trump administration.
“Under President Trump, this administration has achieved the most secure border in modern history. The Treasury Department continues to bring our unique tools and authorities to the fight against cartels and their affiliates. Today’s action is a strong signal that this administration will continue to take the fight to the cartels, regardless of where they are located,” said Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender. “Treasury will continue to expose the criminal networks that allow for drugs to be trafficked into the United States, and work closely with our law enforcement colleagues and the Government of Guyana to disrupt the cartels wherever they operate.”
It added that the action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets the proliferation of illicit drugs and their means of produc-tion. OFAC carried out this investigation in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
