Two men, accused of arranging a cocaine shipment to Barbados during a police sting operation, were yesterday charged with possession of narcotics for trafficking.
Businessman Keith Daniels, 44, of 140 Bombay Terrace, Prashad Nagar and electrician Gavin Johnson, 36, of 152 Freeman Street, East La Penitence pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
It is alleged that they had in their possession 4.396 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Prosecutor Lionel Harvey told the court that on Thursday, September 15, acting on information received, police set up a sting operation, during which policemen went undercover. Daniels and Johnson were contacted during the operation and made arrangements with the undercover policemen to have cocaine shipped to Barbados, he said. It is alleged that the defendants handed over the illegal drugs to the police and the policemen held onto to them. He requested that the men be remanded.
In an application for bail, the lawyer for the men noted that they were arrested some three days ago on Mandela Avenue.
When questioned about the time of arrest by the magistrate, Harvey explained that the men had escaped from police and were only apprehended three days ago.
Bail was refused and Daniels and Johnson were remanded until October 27.