Berbice businessman remanded to prison for cocaine in Pastries

 

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Thirty – seven – year – old businessman and taxi driver of Lot 603 Fort Ordinance, Canje Berbice was to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a drug trafficking charge.

Nicholas Harinanadan pleaded not guilty to the offence whioch alleged that on April 6 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he had in his possession 7.5 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah told the Court that the accused was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airlines flight BW 526, where he checked in two suitcases.

When he approached the scanning machine, the CANU officer on duty identified himself. The accused was questioned about his suitcases and he told the officer that it contained clothing, pastries, food, seasoning and footwear.

The CANU officer enquired from the defendant if he packed his suitcase himself and if anyone give him anything to take to the US and he responded in the negative.

With Harinandan’s consent, the officer conducted a search on a quantity of pastries. He broke one of the Mittai and found a whitish substance, suspected to be cocaine.

He was told of the offence, cautioned by the said rank and subsequently escorted to the CANU headquarters along with the suitcases.

A further search revealed that Mittai, Cheese rolls, Pine Tart and the sole of a pair of Clark’s footwear contained the prohibited substance.

He was represented by Attorney-at-Law, Peter Hugh, who told the Court that his client has no prior conviction. He was remanded to prison and the case was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for April 14.