Guyana welcomes US sanctions against network accused of fraudulent use of national flag
Key Points(5)
- Guyana has welcomed sanctions imposed by the United States Department of the Treasury against two India-based individuals accused of operating a network that fraudulently registered vessels under the Guyanese flag.
- In a statement issued November 5, Guyana's Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) identified the individuals as Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, who it said were involved in maritime fraud affecting Guyana and several other countries.
- According to MARAD, the pair helped manage a network that falsely represented vessels as registered in Guyana through an entity called the International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana (IMSAG), facilitating the unauthorized use of the country's national flag.
- The department said the activities undermine the integrity of national ship registries and pose risks to maritime security.
- The sanctions form part of broader US efforts to target the network and its associated entities.
Guyana has welcomed sanctions imposed by the United States Department of the Treasury against two India-based individuals accused of operating a network that fraudulently registered vessels under the Guyanese flag.
In a statement issued November 5, Guyana's Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) identified the individuals as Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, who it said were involved in maritime fraud affecting Guyana and several other countries.
According to MARAD, the pair helped manage a network that falsely represented vessels as registered in Guyana through an entity called the International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana (IMSAG), facilitating the unauthorized use of the country's national flag.
The department said the activities undermine the integrity of national ship registries and pose risks to maritime security.
The sanctions form part of broader US efforts to target the network and its associated entities. Guyana said it supported the Treasury Department's actions against Sharma, Shahid and the identified organizations.
The government has also been raising concerns about fraudulent vessel registration at international and regional maritime forums, advocating for stronger cooperation and enforcement measures.
In July 2026, Guyana's Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, presented a case study titled Fraudulent Registration: Guyana's Perspective at the Global Maritime Security and Sanctions Enforcement Symposium in Antigua and Barbuda.
The presentation examined the implications of fraudulent vessel registration and measures Guyana is pursuing to address the problem.
The issue was also raised at the Caribbean Shipping Association's 56th Annual General Meeting, recently hosted in Guyana.
MARAD said the country would continue working with international partners, maritime administrations and law enforcement agencies to protect the integrity of its ship registry, uphold international maritime standards and prevent its flag from being used to facilitate criminal activity or evade international sanctions.
