A seaman, who is accused of trafficking in an undisclosed amount of cocaine in coconut milk tins destined for Malaysia was today remanded to prison after he was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Vijay Bisraj, 25, of Lot 57 Section “B” Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, is alleged to have had in his possession a narcotic that is to say cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah related to the court that Bisraj is deemed an expert in the sealing of metal tin caps, as this was the job he had prior to being a seaman, at a factory in Coldingen, East Coast Demerara.
Oswald further stated that it is believed that between the periods of August 21 and September 23, conspiring with others, he sealed a number of labelled coconut milk tins, which contained cocaine mixed with the liquid, destined for Malaysia.
He further noted that acting upon information, CANU ranks visited the home of Bisraj and conducted a search during which they discovered two tins of coconut milk which were sealed.
Massiah further noted that CANU then tested the can which contained the coconut milk and it revealed a liquid whitish substance, in which it was suspected that cocaine was mixed.
He said that Bisraj was contacted and told of the offence, arrested and charged.
Bail was refused.
He will make his next court appearance on December 7 at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court for reports and fixtures.
The Malaysian news agency Bernama on November 19 reported that a container from Guyana was intercepted with cocaine in coconut milk and that a Nigerian drug syndicate was believed to be behind it.
Bernama reported that Bukit Aman Narcotics CID director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the operation was foiled by the Selangor Customs Department after detaining the ship carrying a container cargo in which a section contained drugs worth RM22 million.
