Dinesh Dias, one of the four men arrested by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) on Tuesday night after a fire extinguisher filled with cocaine was found, yesterday took full responsibility for the narcotics and he was sentenced to four years in jail and fined just over $5 million for the crime.
After the guilty plea by Dias, also known as ‘Anil,’ CANU withdrew the charge against his co-accused, Anthony Collins, also known as Black Boy,’ Seenarine Mathura, also known as ‘Deso,’ and Mohamed Inshan, who had pleaded not guilty.
The joint charge against the quartet, which was read by Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, stated that they trafficked 1.8 kilogrammes (equivalent to 3.9 pounds) of cocaine on April 23rd, at Lot 26 Timehri, East Bank Demerara.
Dias also admitted that on the very date he was in possession of almost two grammes of cannabis.
Dias, who resides at the Timehri residence where the cocaine find was made, told the court that neither Collins, 31, Mathura, 43, nor Inshan, 48, had any knowledge of the narcotics.
Prior to sentencing the accused, Magistrate Scarce stated that he took into consideration Dias’ early guilty plea. After also taking note of the manner in which the cocaine was concealed, Magistrate Scarce sentenced Dias to 48 months in jail and fined him $5.1 million. He was also fined $15,000 for the cannabis charge.
According to a press release issued by CANU on Thursday, the cocaine was found after the four men were intercepted at the Timehri house. CANU added that the “suspected narcotic was discovered to be concealed in a fire extinguisher believed to be destined for placement on an aircraft for an international destination at [the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri].”
