Two taxi drivers were yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with having possession of 237 pounds of cocaine found hidden in pepper sauce.
Ramaeo Chandrabhan, 39, and Andrew Yong, 30, were read a joint charge which stated that on April 26th, at Timehri, they had in their possession 107.6 kilogrammes (equivalent to 237.2 pounds) of cocaine.
Chandrabhan and Yong denied the charge read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Attorney Siand Dhurjon, who represented Young, and Ganesh Hira, who represented Chandrabhan made applications for reasonable bail on their client’s behalf.
Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), in a brief statement, yesterday said the cocaine was unearthed at the Camex Bond at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, at Timehri, where it was concealed in a quantity of 15-gallon bottles of pepper sauce slated for export.
CANU prosecutor Konyo Sandiford, in association with Narissa Leander, later objected to bail being granted to either of the two men. Sandiford noted that they are in possession of statements from both accused as well as telephone recordings where the accused boasted about CANU being unable to detect the drugs in the pepper sauce. Additionally, the court heard that Chandrabhan would have pointed out to CANU ranks specific bottles containing the drugs.
Having heard from both the prosecution and the attorneys, the Chief Magistrate remanded to duo to
prison.
They are expected to return for their next hearing on May 15th.
