Two men were yesterday remanded to prison on a charge of attempting to traffic 3.304 kilos of suspected cocaine hidden in salted fish.
Navindra Sarwan, also known as ‘Tall Man,’ 47, of First Field, Cummings Lodge, Georgetown and Adrian David, 39, of 127 Shell Road, Kitty, Georgetown, both appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to them.
It is alleged that between March 7th, 2021 and March 8th, 2021, between First Field, Cummings Lodge, Georgetown and the Amerijet Cargo Shed, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, the two accused trafficked a narcotic, that is to say 3.304 kilogrammes (7.2 pounds) of cocaine.
The narcotics, which were destined for Miami, USA, were intercepted at the Amerijet Cargo Shed, CJIA.
The two men pleaded not guilty to the offence and were both remanded to prison until April 15th, 2021.
According to the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), the cocaine was unearthed in 280 pieces of plastic-wrapped, pencil-shaped parcels. The illegal drug was concealed in the bones of salted fish intended for export, CANU noted.
Six persons were taken into custody following the discovery of the cocaine. The four other persons have been released.On July 2nd, 2018, Sarwan was among five persons who were arrested following the discovery of 15 lbs of suspected cocaine under his vehicle in the compound of the CAMEX Bond at the CJIA, Timehri.
However, he was subsequently released since there was insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
CANU in a press statement had said that the men were arrested around 11 pm while the vehicle which belonged to Sarwan was parked inside the compound of the bond at CJIA.
Sarwan, the release had said was scheduled to ship ground provisions and pumpkins on cargo flight OJ 258 destined for Canada.
