US citizen busted with cocaine at CJIA remanded to prison

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Seventy-eight-year-old Winston Blades of Meadowbrook Garden, Georgetown, was remanded to prison for the offence of drug trafficking by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence which alleged that on Saturday, February 8 at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, he had 10.658 kilogrammes of cocaine in his possession.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah said the defendant is a Guyanese born U.S citizen living in America since the 1980’s and would visit Guyana from time to time.

The Court heard that he returned to Guyana last year and during his stay, he associated with a woman name Dawne.

Dawne offered to pay his ticket fee and on February 6 went to his home and made arrangements for him to take the package on February 8 to the United States. They subsequently took a taxi to the airport and during security checks; his bag appeared to be bulky and was weighed. The bag was pierced and among other substances, seed shaped like nutmeg containing cocaine were found.

Attorney – at – Law Mark Waldron represented the defendant and said that his client was never charged by the Police and the Prosecutor should not object to bail, since they highlighted the special reason in the facts.

Bail was refused and the case was transferred to the Providence Court for February 14.