Alleged female cocaine traffickers remanded

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Two women allegedly busted with cocaine were refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on separate drug trafficking charges.

Thirty-year -old Vanessa Harper of Lot 70 Ramos Street Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on May 15 at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara, she had in her possession 5.756 Kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to Customs Antinarcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah, Harper made arrangements to take the prohibited drugs to the Unites States, after she was promised US$5,000.

The court heard that the mother of two was already given $100,000 in advance and US$300 to assist with accommodation.

Massiah said procedural checks were made by CANU officers when the alleged drugs were found concealed in the cover of two suitcases.

Meanwhile, Nanda Ali, 39, of Lot 12 Courbin Park, Annandale Park, East Coast Demerara, also pleaded not guilty to a charge which alleged that on May 15 at CJIA, she had in her possession 6.182 Kg of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The Prosecutor told the court that Ali also made arrangements with persons unknown to take the illegal substance to the US. She was also promised US$5,000 for her services.

The prosecutor said that whilst Ali was at the airport a search was conducted on her possessions, which unearthed the illegal drugs from the cover at the bottom of each suitcase.

Representing Ali was Attorney-at-law, Peter Hugh, who told the Court that his client is a proprietor of a beer garden and a mother of two with no priors. The matters were transferred to Providence Magistrate’s court for May 25.