Photographs taken of last year’s discovery of $550 million in cocaine stashed in lumber were tendered as evidence yesterday when the trial of the accused traffickers continued at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
The photographs were accepted as a part of evidence during the testimony of a Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit photographer during the trial of Stephen Vieira, 33, of Middle and Cummings streets, Georgetown, Sherwayne De Abreu, 35, of Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara; and Tazim Gafoor, 45, and his son, Nazim Gafoor, 20, of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara.
The men are accused of having in their possession 84.9 kilogrammes of cocaine between March 1st and May 12th, 2017 at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo.
At yesterday’s hearing, the photographer, who is not being named for security reasons, informed trial magistrate Rochelle Liverpool of the role he played in the investigation and offered an explanation for every picture he tendered into evidence.
Also continuing his testimony yesterday was the CANU investigator who made the bust.
The photographer and the CANU investigator are to both to continue their testimony today and are expected to be subjected to cross-examination by the attorneys for the accused.
Additional exhibits is also expected to be tendered into evidence today.
On May 12th, 2017, CANU conducted a raid and found the drugs concealed in dressed lumber.
The cocaine was reportedly stashed in lumber at a sawmill in Lookout, East Bank Essequibo, belonging to Narine Lall, for whom an arrest warrant has been issued. Reports are that a truck was hired to pick up and transport the lumber from Lall’s Sawmill to a wharf at Georgetown.
