Kapil Haresh Thakurian, the man accused of trying to ship nearly 194 pounds of cocaine hidden in seafood at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) last August, was yesterday found guilty and handed a five-year prison sentence along with a $237.6 million fine.
Thakurian, 32, who was read a guilty verdict by Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly yesterday, stood in the prisoner’s dock, shocked at the ruling, which was delivered at the conclusion of his trial.
After the verdict was read, his lawyer Peter Hugh said that he would be appealing immediately.
The accused, who had given the police two addresses, Lot 20 Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara and Lot 533 Fourteenth Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara, was charged last August with having in his possession 88.2 kilogrammes of cocaine (equivalent to 194.4 pounds) for the purpose of trafficking, on August 9, 2016, at CJIA.
Police had said ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch intercepted a cargo shipment of 35 boxes of seafood which was being shipped by Thakurian. Eight of the 35 boxes contained the cocaine.
Thakurian had pleaded not guilty to the charge at his arraignment.
Announcing her decision yesterday, the magistrate said the prosecution, which was led by Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, had proven its case against Thakurian beyond a reasonable doubt and there was enough evidence against him. As a result, she handed down the maximum sentence for narcotics trafficking and fined him $237,600,000, which is thrice the street value of the drugs.
