Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officer Anthony Yarde, who yesterday recounted the discovery of 129.230 kilogrammes of cocaine (equivalent to 284 pounds) at the home of accused drug trafficker Barry Dataram, also revealed that some of the narcotics went missing.
Yarde, who began his testimony on Monday, told the court that during the search conducted in the bathroom of the upper flat another CANU officer who was with him and the defendants pulled out a red and white bag from the cupboard by the sink. There were several brick-like objects in the bag, he stated. And on closer examination, he observed that six brick-like objects contained what appeared to be cocaine.
He added that he then proceeded to caution the defendants, but Dataram blurted out, “Is me thing, none ah dem people ain know bout dis.”
Yarde said 11 more brick-like objects were found by the CANU officer that also had what appeared to be cocaine.
Yarde said their search then led them to the kitchen on the lower flat where they found a blue baby tub next to the dining room area, with transparent plastic-wrapped parcels containing what appeared to be cocaine. Next to the blue tub, he stated, was a black plastic bag that also contained similar wrapped parcels of a whitish substance.
The contents of the tub amounted to 180 parcels and the black garbage bag 92 parcels all suspected to be cocaine.
Yarde said further searches done in the presence of the four accused led to the discovery of several utensils alleged to be involved in the processing of cocaine. The utensils found were three plastic cups, two hammers, two digital scales, two teaspoons, a stainless steel awl, a stainless steel pot spoon, a small stainless steel knife, a box cutter, and a small chopper.
A search was then conducted in a shed on Dataram’s premises which led to the discovery of 428 parcels of what appeared to be shrimp in a white fridge, but on further investigation they were found to contain what was suspected to be cocaine.
All the parcels that were found were taken to the CID headquarters for sampling and weighing, according to Yarde. It was in the process of weighing the parcels found in the white freezer that Yarde discovered that there were only 420 parcels instead of 428. He said he recounted the parcels twice and reported to his superior that there were eight parcels missing. He added that all of the parcels found were counted prior to being transported to the CANU headquarters.
Yarde said all of the samples were later sealed, placed in white envelopes and marked, then lodged at CANU headquarters.
Dataram, his common-law wife Anjanie Boodnarine, Kevin Charran, and Trevor Gouveia, are currently on trial before Magistrate Judy Latchman. They have been charged with possession of the cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The case was adjourned to April 7.
