According to Puerto Rican newspaper Primera Hora, US federal agents at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport on the Caribbean island detected the large sum stashed in plastic bags during routine investigations.
The large sum of money had not been declared to US authorities and was detected during a search of the aircraft.
Lall, the report said, was the passenger of a private plane that landed in Isla Verde on November 22, according to an affidavit by a federal agent.
It had stopped to refuel with the intention of continuing to Georgetown, Guyana according to information from the electronic file of the Federal Court.
Primera Hora said it was reported that Customs officers asked the detainee to report how much cash he was carrying. However, Lall, who was traveling with his father and the pilot of the aircraft, initially reported only US$5,000 between him and his father but later said the two had US$12,000.
US authorities require that sums over US$10,000 be reported.
On closer inspection of the plane, officers found US$150,000 first “wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket near an exit,” according to the statement of the federal agent.
Subsequently, in a compartment near a motor, several black garbage bags with the other US$470,000 were found. Lall said that all the money was his. He said his father and the pilot knew nothing about the high amount of cash carried in the aircraft, the report said.
Judge Marcos Lopez issued an arrest warrant for Lall. He faces charges of falsely filling federal reports and smuggling more than US$600,000, the report said.
Lall’s profile on http://execjetclub.com says “Mr. Kem Lall migrated to the United States of America 30 years ago in pursuit of his dreams in aviation. He graduated from the College of Aeronautics with a Bachelors Degree in Technology and Engineering, and later obtained his pilot license.
He has been flying since 1994 and holds a PIC ( Pilot-In-Command) type rating approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He has worked for Pan American airlines as an engineer for five (5) year until they closed their operation in 1991 and for the past 15 years he has been freelancing with Ringwood Airport in New Jersey as a flight instructor.
In 1992, Mr. Lall started his own business “K.L.X Logistics Inc” located at 13 Edward Hart Drive, Jersey City which offered trucking and warehouse services, and was operational from 1995 to 2010.
In 2007, he purchased a gas station now known as the Kaylee’ Service Station located at Coverden, East Bank Demerara as part of his investment plans in Guyana and later expanded his venture when he introduced Quin’s Special Events & Services compose of two limousines.
In pursuit of his dreams, Mr. Lall acquired a Westwind 1 Aircraft, which is a light executive jet that will be operating an international private service from Guyana to the North America, South America and the Caribbean. This service is the first of its kind in Guyana and Mr. Lall has many more plans that will surely boost the aviation and tourism sector in our economy.”
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– See more at: http://execjetclub.com
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A pilot who runs an executive jet company that has transported the president of Guyana was arrested after U.S. agents found more than $600,000 in undeclared cash inside his aircraft during a stop in Puerto Rico, authorities said Wednesday.
Khamraj Lall, the CEO Exec Jet Club LLC, was in custody at a federal jail in San Juan on suspicion of intent to evade currency reporting, said Carol Torres, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Lall was the co-pilot on a flight to Guyana when agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations searched the aircraft when it stopped to refuel Saturday. He and the two others on board reported carrying about $12,000, but agents found $620,588 in plastic bags inside the plane, Torres said.
U.S. law requires amounts over $10,000 to be declared.
Torres said the source of the money is under investigation.
Lall, 47, is a native of Guyana who lives in Ringwood, New Jersey. A spokesman for Guyanese President Donald Ramotar said the government is still trying to determine how many times the company has transported the president.
“Anyone can use a plane or a taxi. It should not be taken to mean anything,” spokesman Kwame McKoy said.
A person answering the phone at Exec Jet Club said no one at the company’s offices in Gainesville, Florida, would comment on the arrest and declined to identify Lally’s attorney. A bond hearing was scheduled for Monday.
- Source: http://www.app.com
President Donald Ramotar (left) and his predecessor, Bharrat Jagdeo.
Jagdeo, Ramotar hired executive jet service on whose plane US authorities found US$620K
A privately-owned executive jet service, whose Guyanese owner has been arrested in Puerto Rico allegedly with US$620,000 in his possession, has been used by Former President Bharrat Jagdeo and his successor, Donald Ramotar, according to well-placed sources.
The owner, Khamraj Lall, was arrested in Puerto Rico on November 22 after US$600,000 was sniffed out by dogs that were taken aboard the aircraft he was a passenger on his return to Guyana.
Caribbean News Desk was also reliably informed that the private hangar for Exec Jet Club can potentially come under less scrutiny by various layers of security personnel at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
According to knowledgeable sources, passengers could go to the hangar first with anything, place it aboard the aircraft and then return for cursory inspection before departing. On arrival, occupants can report for a cursory inspection before the plane is taken to the hangar where items could be offloaded.
Sources said that Ramotar and Jagdeo have used the executive jet service to fly to Puerto Rico and Brazil. In the case of a trip to Puerto Rico, both presidents had travelled together. Nothing illegal was ever found on those flights.
While concerns have been raised about the size and location of the “very private” hangar with a “private entrance,” another source was adamant that it is under construction and is not being used. The source said that Lall and his passengers are usually subjected to the same customs, immigration, police and Customs Anti Narcotics Unit scrutiny like all other private jets.
Another source acknowledged that construction work was ongoing but said the aircraft are usually parked inside the hangar that is large enough to hold a Boeing 737 and close its doors. The hangar is to be used for executive passengers and air-ambulance services.
Transport Minister, Robeson Benn told Caribbean News Desk that given the information that is in the public domain, authorities in Guyana would be seeking some answers. "Based on what is turning out there, we would see what relationship it has to do with anything at the hangar here or in Guyana… we’ll be asking some questions,” he said.
Reports from Puerto Rico say that Lall, who was traveling with his father and the pilot of the aircraft, initially reported only US$5,000 between him and his father, but in a second report said the two had US$12,000.
However, a team of federal agents found that indeed had more cash on the plane. US authorities require that sums are reported in cash over US$10,000.
On closer inspection of the plane, officers found US $150,000 first "wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket near an exit," according to the statement of the federal agent. Lall said he did not remember having that amount and said they were from his business.
Subsequently, in a compartment near a motor, several black garbage bags with other US$470,000 were found. Lall said that all the money was his. He said his father and the pilot knew nothing about the high amount of cash carried in the aircraft.
Judge Marcos Lopez issued the arrest warrant Lall, as stated in the federal electronic file. Lall faces charges of falsely filling federal reports and smuggling more than US$600,000.
In 2007, he purchased a gas station now known as the Kaylee’ Service Station located at Coverden, East Bank Demerara as part of his investment plans in Guyana and later expanded his venture when he introduced Quin’s Special Events & Services compose of two limousines.
Story and Comments: http://caribnewsdesk.com
This should get interesting @ @
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