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Three market constables among four remanded on drug charge
Four persons, three of whom are market constables with one of them being pregnant, were on Monday remanded to prison by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo when they appeared before her at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on a joint charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Joel Cush, called “Yellow” or “Rastaman”, 45, of 61 Clifton, Corentyne, Berbice, a father of three and a vendor of Pitt Street New Amsterdam is charged along with Dwayne Casey, 25, a Lance Corporal of Golden Fleece West Coast Berbice, Sherry Burnett, 48, of 38 Stanleytown and Natasha Cooke a mother of three of New Amsterdam all constables attached to the New Amsterdam municipality.
According to prosecutor Corporal Orin Joseph, the four at Pitt Street New Amsterdam had in their possession 365 grams of marijuana. They were refused bail and remanded to prison until January 29, 2013.
Attorney at Law Rabindranauth Singh appeared for the quartet.
According to information, police got word of a scheme involving drug dealers and members of the market constabulary, where drugs would come out from the riverain areas of Berbice and Canje River. The drugs are then secreted in an area until dark or early morning then ferried by selected members of the constabulary for a fee.
Police on Friday after conducting surveillance surprised two of the constables (a former female police officer and a male lance corporal) who had just left the market compound and were heading through Pitt Street with the drugs in a bag.
After conducting surveillance and secreting themselves, the police were able to arrest two market constables with the bag. The constables, realizing they were in trouble told the police that they were asked by someone to deliver the bag to Cush who operates a stall in Pitt Street, New Amsterdam.
The two then led police to where the man was staying.
Secreting themselves the police asked one of the constables to knock at the door. Cush who is well known came out and was arrested by the police after he was identified as the man that the marijuana was to be delivered to.
Further investigation lead to the arrest of Cooke.
The court room was packed as persons jostled to get a glimpse of the four accused. In court they all denied having anything to do with the drugs.
Cush stated that he was unaware of what was going on. He stated that all he knows is that he was handed a parcel to deliver to one Eddy. Casey stated that he was not involved and is innocent. Burnett, who is a former member of the Guyana Police Force, and who served time after being convicted for aiding a man in custody to escape, stated that she worked the night shift and the entire thing is an allegation.
Cooke also denied and stated that the charge is an allegation.
According to information the constables are part of a gang of couriers who work for a fee.
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