An elderly man, who police have accused of trying to smuggle a quantity of cocaine to Canada through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared in court on a drug trafficking charge.
When Arthur Manget, 68, of Old Road, Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1, he denied the charge.
The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) alleged that Manget, on April 8, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, had in his possession 9.670 kilogrammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford told the court that Manget was an outgoing passenger on flight BW 524 bound for Canada when he was arrested.
The prosecutor said the accused was in possession of two suitcases and a scan aroused suspicions about objects that were observed to be concealed inside. As a result, CANU officers conducted a search, which uncovered the drug, the prosecutor added.
He also said Manget is a Guyanese national with Canadian citizenship along with a Canadian passport.
Bail was refused and the matter was transferred to Court 5, where Manget will make his next court appearance on April 30.
