Alleged drug traffickers Stephen Vieira, Nazim Gafoor, Tazim Gafoor and Sherwayne De Abreu are expected to lead their respective defences next month after Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool overruled no-case submissions presented on their behalf.
Magistrate Liverpool in explaining her decision yesterday, said that a prima facie case has been made against the four men.
Following her ruling, the Magistrate called on the four accused to lead their respective defences; this has however since been postponed until December 11 and 12 following requests for additional time by Attorneys Latchmie Rahamat and Glen Hanoman.
As reported by this newspaper, the trial had commenced in February of this year and has seen several witnesses being called to give evidence before the prosecution led by Konyo Sandiford closed her case last month. Vieira, 33, of Middle and Cummings streets, Georgetown; De Abreu, 35, of Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara; and Tazim Gafoor, 45, and his son, Nazim Gafoor, 20, of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, were accused of having in their possession 84.9 kilogrammes of cocaine worth $550m between March 1st and May 12th, 2017 at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo.
Vieira and the Gafoors are bike racers.
The cocaine was reportedly stashed in lumber at a sawmill at Lookout, East Bank Essequibo, which belonged to Narine Lall, who is still wanted.
