Two persons are now in custody after Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officers on Friday discovered cocaine hidden in two bowls of curry in the luggage of a New York-bound man at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
CANU, in a brief statement, said the man was due to travel on Jet Blue Airways Flight B61966, destined for JFK, when a search of his suitcase was conducted in his presence, leading to the discovery of the suspected cocaine hidden in two bowls with curry.
As a result, Loaknauth Persaud, 36, of Parika Backdam, was arrested and escorted to CANU headquarters with the suspected narcotics, which was subsequently tested and confirmed to be cocaine weighing a total of 6.28kgs (approximately 13.8lbs) with a street value of approximately US$31,000.00 (approximately GY$6.3M).
CANU added that further investigations led to the arrest of Manzil Ali, called John Ali, 43, of Section C, ‘D’ Field, Sophia.
