Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who presided over their trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, also ordered White and David to each pay a $30,000 fine for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The jointly-charged duo was arraigned on December 10, 2012, just four days after the 21.87 kilos of cocaine were found at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri (CJIA).
White, 23, a computer technician of Lot 33 San Souci, Wakenaam, was identified as the exporter, while David, also 23, of Lot 192 Plantain Walk, West Deme-rara, was a porter at the airport. Inspector Stephen Telford, who prosecuted the case, had said that officers from the narcotics branch had conducted a search on cargo destined for Ontario, Canada on Caribbean Airlines Flight 484 when they discovered 41 bags of mangoes and an assortment of noodles.
The search found that the noodles had been replaced by drinking straws in six boxes and they contained a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine.
Investigations were later carried out which led to the two men being arrested and charged.
During the trial, police witness Sergeant Michael Houston, who is stationed at the Police Narcotics Branch, testified that White, when confronted, claimed that “they set me up” and gave a statement to that effect in writing.
Houston also testified that White took him to a house on the West Coast of Demerara and pointed out a shop where he said the mangoes and macaroni were kept along with several manure bags, which were on the floor. Houston testified that the bags were then retrieved and taken to Criminal Investigation Department headquarters and logged for safe keeping.
