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Cocaine in straws case…Key witnesses testify
As the trial of Adrian David and O’Brien White continued yesterday, two main witnesses were called upon to give their testimony. The witnesses testified against the duo accused of attempting to smuggle cocaine which was found secreted in drinking straws.
The case was called up before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Police Prosecutor Stephen Telford called witness Ray Charles to the stand. Charles, a cargo officer attached to Consolidated cargo/Aviation services pointed out O’Brien White as the customer whom he had done business with on December 6, 2012. Charles said that White had approached the company with a shipment of mangoes and noodles to be exported to Canada. He however, could not remember the direct address of the consignee or the exporter.
Under cross examination by Defence Counsel Peter Hugh, the witness said that the accused had exported goods that day. However when the question was again put to the witness, he changed his response. Charles said that the intended shipment was “not successful” because the Customs Anti Narcotics Officers had seized it.
The next witness was businessman Jadesh Persaud.
Persaud, is the owner of the property which was the registered mailing address of the exporter. The address Lot 1 and 2 Plantain Walk, Vreed-en-hoop, West Coast Demerara, is said to be the location of Vick’s Mall.
Persaud said that he rents to the place to several tenants, but is unaware of any business by the name Prestigious Foods. The witness also stated that he had never heard the name O’Brien White before. White, the accused attempted to export 21 kilos of cocaine using the said address as one where he operates his business Prestigious Foods.
Nevertheless, under cross examination by the Defence Attorney, the witness stated that he is not aware of all businesses that are in operation at his premises, neither has he ever opposed or stopped any of his tenants from conducting any sort of business at the location.
White and David face charges of trafficking in narcotics in December of last year.
The narcotics were found in a quantity of drinking straws disguised to be macaroni noodles scheduled for a Canada-bound shipment.
The narcotics discovery was made by CANU ranks. The ranks carried out a thorough search on the consignment after suspicion arose about the weight of the goods. There, they discovered that among the contents were drinking straws spray-painted in the colour of macaroni noodles and packed with a white powdery substance.
This was subsequently tested and confirmed to be cocaine – a total of 21 kilogrammes.
The shipment was addressed to 44 Mount Crescent, Ajax, Ontario, Canada. The matter is adjourned until January 14.
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