A 32-year-old businessman was today (Friday) remanded to prison despite pleading not guilty and denying ownership of a large quantity of cocaine laden fish that was discovered at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) earlier this week.
Kapil Haresh Thakuran of Foulis village, East Coast Demerara (ECD) made his first court appearance before Magistrate Leron Daly today where he denied that he had attempted to ship 88 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in a shipment of fish destined for New York.
His lawyer, Peter Hugh, told the Court that the illegal substance was discovered in the shipment of fish before Thakuran had made a declaration and in such a case no conclusion could be made that his client knew about the cocaine hidden in the fish.
With this argument he pleaded with Magistrate Daly to allow Thakuran to be placed on ‘reasonable’ bail however this request was denied and the accused was remanded to prison until August 26.
On Tuesday evening, ranks attached to the Police Narcotics Branch seized the shipment of fish which had been packed with cocaine as it was being processed through an air cargo service.
Upon investigation it was revealed that there were a number of long pellet like shaped packets of the illegal substance in some of the frozen fish.
