Andrew Rodriguez, 43, of Timehri yesterday pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine and was jailed for four years while his co-accused, CJIA agent Duane Joseph, 20, pleaded not guilty and was remanded.
The two men appeared yesterday before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court.
It was stated that on Tuesday, August 15, officers from the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) visited Rodriguez’s residence at 4C North, South Dakota Racing Circuit. In his presence, a thorough search was conducted, during which he directed the officers to his washing machine. Inside, they discovered four parcels suspected to contain cocaine, totalling 2.160 kg in weight. Rodriguez was subsequently arrested and under caution, confessed to his connection with the substance.
In court, he admitted ownership of the cocaine but disputed the prosecution’s assertion that it was meant for international distribution. He pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to four years and fined $3.2m.
Meanwhile, co-defendant Joseph, who is employed as an agent at the Cheddi Jagan Inter-national Airport (CJIA), Timehri also appeared in court, where he was charged with aiding and abetting the trafficking of narcotics. The accusation against him dates back to August 14, at 161 Soes-dyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara. On the day in question, it is alleged that Joseph assisted Rodriguez in the trafficking of 2.160 kg of cocaine, which was subsequently intercepted at 4C North, South Dakota Racing Circuit.
In addition to the current charges, Joseph is facing a simple larceny charge. Joseph was remanded to prison until September 19.
