Second man charged over cocaine in fish at CJIA
A second man was yesterday charged in relation to the alleged trafficking of 20.6 pounds of cocaine, which was found in frozen fish by the Customs AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.
Balideo Persaud, 32, of C’ Field, Leonora, West Coast Demerara, was read the narcotics charge by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The charge alleged that the accused, on February 6 at Laparkan Cargo Shed, CJIA trafficked 9.366 kg (equivalent to 20.6 pounds) of cocaine. Persaud denied the allegation. Attorney Bernard Da Silva, who represented the accused, told the court that his client was the driver of the canter which allegedly contained the shipment of fish. He added that the canter is not owned by his client and that Persaud was merely contracted and paid $5,000 for his services. He added that his client made no admission or confession.
CANU prosecutor Konyo Sandiford objected to the defendant being granted bail, stating that Persaud was one of the alleged porters sent away by CANU. It was further stated that based on investigations conducted on the defendant’s phone and the phone of Amir Ally, who was also charged for the said crime, certain revelations were made.
Persaud, according to the prosecutor, was later invited back to CANU and gave an incriminating confession, on February 11, which he signed to.
The Chief Magistrate subsequently remanded the accused to prison and adjourned the matter to March 7.