A Goed Fortuin businessman was yesterday re-manded to prison after he was charged with trafficking 20.6 pounds of cocaine, which were found in frozen fish by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
Amir Ally, 30, of Lot P Goed Fortuin Housing scheme, West Bank Demerara, was read a charge which stated that on February 6th, at the CJIA, he trafficked 9.366 kilos (equivalent to 20.6 pounds) of cocaine.
Ally denied the charge after it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
CANU prosecutor Konyo Sandiford objected to bail being granted to the defendant. Sandiford noted that the officer who discovered the package specifically requested the shipper, Ally, via porters, who then told her something. When he arrived, a search was conducted and the drugs were found.
The defendant along with the porters were later taken to CANU, where Ally gave an oral statement, which he signed in the CANU diary.
Attorney Bernard Da Silva told the court that the drugs were not found on his client but in the canter that was loaded with fish destined for the airport. He added that the defendant was not in the canter and did not travel from his home to the airport. Da Silva further stated that his client should be eligible for bail since he was not in possession of the drugs.
However, bail denied by the Chief Magistrate and the matter was adjourned until March 7th.
