Two special constables were yesterday charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine that was intercepted in rum bottles at the John F Kennedy airport in New York.
Jermain Bristol, 29, of Lot 2044 Stevedore Hous-ing Scheme, Georgetown and Margaret Jacobs, 53, of Prospect, East Bank Demeara, both special constables assigned to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri (CJIA), were refused bail when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It is alleged that on November 17, 2014, at the CJIA, Bristol and Jacobs conspired with other persons unknown to traffic in narcotics.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charge read to them by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Bristol also faced a second conspiracy charge. It is being alleged that between August 1 and October 31, 2014, he conspired with other persons unknown to traffic in narcotics. He also pleaded not guilty to the second charge.
Prosecutor Bharat Mangru said that on November 17, 2014, an American citizen travelling with four bottles of rum was intercepted at the John F Kennedy airport, where it was discovered that two of the four bottles were laced with cocaine.
During investigations, Mangru noted, CCTV camera footage revealed that both Bristol and Jacobs were seen operating outside their normal functions at the CJIA. They were contacted and asked to explain. He said Bristol admitted that he was paid by the individual to traffic the cocaine, while Jacobs also admitted that she was paid in order to assist in carrying out the act.
However, attorney Gordon Gilhuys, who represented Bristol, said the man knew nothing about the charges against him. He added that Bristol was also beaten by the police and had to be rushed to the hospital on Friday.
While the court heard that Bristol was in custody since last Thursday and held without charge for more than 72 hours, he told the court that he was arrested on Wednesday. However, Mangru maintained that Bristol was arrested last Thursday and said yesterday’s was the earliest court date after the 72 hours elapsed.
Meanwhile, Jacobs’ attorney told the court she has been a constable for more than 20 years. The lawyer said she was on duty yesterday when she received a called from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) informing her about the charge. The lawyer added that Jacobs also cooperated with the police and said she also lodged her passport since she has no intention of fleeing the jurisdiction and would return for her trial. An application for reasonable bail was made but it was later denied.
The court also heard that Jacobs was only recently promoted to corporal.
Mangru objected to bail since he said no special reason was provided to the court for bail to be granted. Both accused were remanded to prison and are expected to make their next court appearance on January 26.
In November, Wilton Sinclair was charged with possession of cocaine in the US Eastern District Court, after being found with 8.206 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in bottles of rum at the John F Kennedy Airport.
According to court documents, Sinclair was a passenger on Caribbean Airlines Flight 525, which departed Georgetown and travelled to Trinidad and Tobago. He then boarded another Caribbean Airline Flight 524 and flew to the United States.
But on arrival at JFK Airport, he was selected for passenger screening by the US Customs and Border Protection officers. Sinclair was carrying a shopping bag, which contained four 1.75 litre bottles of rum, which when inspected were found to contain a thick, syrup-like substance inconsistent with rum.
Further inspections revealed the presence of cocaine and Sinclair was arrested.
Sinclair later waived his rights and told law enforcement agents that he was paid US$6,000 to take the four bottles containing cocaine from Guyana to the United States.
The court documents said a preliminary hearing was waived and bail was set with surety sworn after Sinclair was advised of his bond obligations and conditions.
Another man, Raphael Armstrong, was subsequently held in December at JFK with almost 3 kilogrammes of cocaine in bottles of cream liqueur, which were purportedly sourced from a CJIA duty-free shop.
