Four men were yesterday remanded to prison on charges of having cocaine for trafficking after being arrested by anti-narcotic agents during a drop in the city.
It is alleged that on January 28th, at Sheriff Street, Georgetown, Kevin Gordon, 32, of Lot 320 Section ‘C’ Turkeyen, Adrian David, 25, of ‘D’ Field Sophia, Carl Roberts, 27, of 62 Duncan Street, Campbellville and Fabian Gonsalves, of Pomeroon River, had in their possessions 11.150 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
It is also alleged on the same day, Gordon had in his possession 1.084 kilogrammes of cocaine.
The men were not required to plead to the indictable charges when they were read to them by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 5.
The prosecution’s case is that the quartet was caught with the cocaine during an operation conducted by members of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Sheriff Street, where ranks saw Gordon hand over a five-gallon container to Gonsalves, who was travelling with David and Roberts.
Gordon, who had arrived in a car, then attempted to walk away but he was intercepted by CANU ranks and told of the suspicion that he was trafficking narcotics.
In the presence of the four men, the five-gallon container was opened and 10 bricks, suspected to be cocaine, were found. It was also claimed that Gonsalves, David and Roberts informed the CANU officers that there was another parcel in the bonnet of Gordon’s car, which resulted in the separate charge laid against him.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford brought it to the court’s attention that David was charged and convicted before for the same offence.
He added that the investigations are not yet completed and made an application for the defendants to be remanded for a two-week period.
Attorney Mark Waldron, who represented Gordon, told the court in his brief submission that he was just anxious for the commencement of trial, while Gonsalves’ attorney only mentioned that his client was not a flight risk and had no previous convictions.
Attorney Glenn Hanoman represented David and Roberts and he said that the substance recovered by CANU had not been analysed and there was still uncertainly about whether it was indeed narcotics. He suggested the substance could even be powdered milk.
He also suggested the possibility of the men being unaware of the substance being placed in their car.
Hanoman, while noting that bail would only be granted in circumstances where special reasons were provided pertaining to the charge, argued that even if the men were kept in custody to conduct a trial, it could take as long as three years, which is equivalent to the mandatory minimum penalty for the offence.
As a result, he said to keep the defendants in custody for so long was quite unfair.
However, despite his arguments, the magistrate refused bail and the matter was adjourned to February 5th, when it will be called again in Court 1.
