Two accused in 100-lb Parika drug bust contradict each other

works with different persons as a boat captain, piloting boats to different locations. He said on the day in question he was asked to bring Lall’s boat to Parika from Charity. “I bring the boat to Charity from Parika. I didn’t know nothing went on the boat. I does work to carry boats to Barama, Port Kaituma, Kumaka just to maintain me wife and children. I don’t work with one person, I does work with different, different, people,” Thornhill explained.

“I don’t know nothing about the narcotics, I get charged innocently, I didn’t do nothing,” he too said.

Similarly, Doodnauth Chattergoon, who lives on the Essequibo Coast, told the court that he was asked by Lall to accompany Thornhill from Charity to Parika.

“Me was to come to Parika to buy some twine for me seine and I received a call from Khemraj Lall and he ask me to come from Charity to Parika with he boat. I told he that I gon come… he told me go to Charity and come with the boat with Cleve Thornhill and he gon (say) when he reach Parika,” Chattergoon said.

“When we reach he tell me come out, he deh waiting in the car. He ask me where Cleve Thornhill deh and I tell he, he coming just now. I told him that I got to go to Gafoor to buy twine for my seine and I want go back Essequibo. He told me just now we gon go and when Cleve Thornhill come, we were going out when CANU interrupt we,” he added.

The man went on to tell the court that the vehicle they were in was searched, however nothing was found. He also noted that when CANU officers levelled the drug trafficking allegations, he denied them.

Lall, in his unsworn statement, admitted to hiring Thornhill to transport his boat from Charity to Parika and asking Chattergoon to accompany the boat captain on the trip.

However, he denied having any knowledge of narcotics, while noting that though their car had been stopped and searched by CANU officers, nothing was found.