Trevor Parks, accused of attempting to traffic over 4 kilogrammes of cocaine out of the country through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri (CJIA) last Friday, was remanded to prison when he made an appearance at a city court yesterday.
Parks, 27, of 3841 North Ruimveldt, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a charge of possession of 4.090 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, Parks, a Guyanese citizen who resides in Canada, was an outgoing passenger on Caribbean Airlines flight BW606, destined for Toronto, Canada. However, while his luggage was being scanned last Friday, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks observed an unusual bulge in the bottom of the suitcase. After a search was conducted on the suitcase, it was revealed that the luggage possessed a false bottom. The said area was searched and a white, powdery substance wrapped in foil, was found within. The substance was tested and was positively identified as cocaine. Parks was subsequently arrested and charged.
Prosecutor Grant stated that the defendant had admitted to the crime.
However, the man’s lawyer, James Bond, said that he had not been allowed to speak to his client and as such any admission of guilt might not have been obtained under voluntary conditions. The police’s refusal to allow him to see his client, Bond continued, resulted in an altercation between him and them. Although he claimed that the father of two is not a flight risk, Parks was refused bail. He is now set to return to court today, when the case will be called at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
