Two men were yesterday charged separately in connection with a quantity of cocaine found in coconut milk tins in a container on a ship bound for Africa.
One of the men, a manager of a packaging plant, pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic in an unknown amount of liquid cocaine and was sentenced to four years imprisonment. The other man, a seaman, who was reportedly caught with two tins of the substance at his home, was remanded to prison.
Looknaught Denasur, who first appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, after admitting guilt, related to the court that he had no idea where the tins were headed, but was paid $100,000.
Denasur further stated that he was also promised an additional $1 million if the shipment reached its destination.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah said that Between August 1 and November 22, Denasur conspired to conceal the said narcotic in the tins, which was later discovered by foreign officials.
Massiah said Denasur was later contacted and told of the offence by CANU ranks acting on information.
When given the opportunity to speak, Denasur told the court that he has three children and was working for a small amount of money and that was why he decided to break the law.
Taking into consideration that Denasur admitted to the offence and did not waste the court’s time, Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment along with a $30,000 fine.
In relation to the seaman, 25-year-old Vijay Bisraj of Lot 57 Section ‘B’ Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, the charge was possession of narcotics.
Massiah related to the court that Bisraj was 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 at Coldingen, ECD.
Massiah further stated that it is believed that between the periods of August 21 and September 23, conspiring with others, Bisraj sealed a number of tins labelled coconut milk, each of which contained an unknown amount of cocaine mixed with the liquid.
He further stated that acting on 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 stated that CANU officials opened the cans and it revealed that they contained a liquid whitish substance, which was suspected to be liquid cocaine.
He said Bisraj was contacted and told of the offence, subsequently being arrested and charged.
Representing Bisraj, Attorney Shellon Boyce, in an application for bail told the court that her client had no previous or pending matters in court and did not pose a flight risk. She added that her client is ready to prove his innocence.
She further stated that Bisraj told her he had been beaten by unknown police officers even before he provided his statement to police.
Boyce further stated that her client said that since he was charged with the offence, he and his family were being contacted by unknown persons and threatened.
In relation to the cans which Massiah said were found in his home, she related that her client told her his home was constantly occupied by persons going in and out, and the cans were not found on his person.
Bail was refused.
Bisraj 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.
Based on information from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA), a ship which arrived on November 12 at Port Klang, Malaysia was filled with 980 cartons of cans containing coconut milk and pieces of pineapple.
