Manager, forklift operator charged for cocaine in lumber

Mar 27, 2013 News

After what was seen as a lengthy and yet ongoing investigation, two persons have been finally charged and placed before the court in connection with the multi-million US dollar cocaine bust.

Dominic Walsh

Some 314 kilograms of cocaine was discovered in a consignment of hollowed logs bound for Europe, last month.
Ousmond Ghanie, called Raymond, 41, of Lot 48 South De Kenderen, West Coast Demerara and Dominic Walsh, 31, a father of two from Lot 1 Soesdyke/Linden Highway were charged with possession of an illicit substance for the purpose of trafficking. They appeared before Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Their court appearance came more than a month after ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) unearthed a massive quantity of cocaine stashed in timber destined for Holland. As a result of the bust, several suspects had been detained to assist with investigations. The suspects included a Dutch National, Edgar Boesenach, whose local address is listed as Coralita Avenue, Bel Air, Georgetown.
On Monday, CANU detained a popular city businessman as a key suspect in relation to the crime.
He did not appear in court yesterday. The suspect was deported from the United States some time back. He was also arrested for a shipment of cocaine concealed in pepper sauce.
Last February, the 314 kilograms of cocaine were extracted from ‘lumber boxes’ at a sawmill located at the Soesdyke/Linden Highway junction. The drug shipment was headed for The Netherlands (Holland) – being shipped by Guyana Timber Products Inc.
Reports are that various state agencies were involved in the probe which was allegedly initiated by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).
According to information, the forestry agency had suspicions about the company’s lumber shipments after it repeatedly failed to adhere to policies.
The drugs were found in a container which was said to have been cleared by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and due for shipment.
The GFC reportedly insisted that a complete check be done of the containers in the presence of Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and CANU agents. Sources said that the timber company had experienced ups and downs with GFC after the latter had cited insolence on the part of the company in relation to adherence to rules and regulations.
As a result, some of the company’s shipments were denied at certain intervals.
At least seven containers were said to be of interest to investigators. The containers were taken back to the sawmill’s compound where they were re-opened and the lumber stripped to reveal a hollow inside neatly packed with sealed packages of the illicit substance.
At yesterday’s hearing the duo faced an indictment for allegedly being in possession of approximately 314 kilograms (692 pounds) of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking between January 25 and February 20, 2013.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Ousmond Ghanie called Raymond

Attorneys-at-law Mark Waldron and Deborah Kumar requested bail for the two accused, citing that the basis of the charge is questionable given that the investigations are yet to be completed.
In their submission for bail, both lawyers argued that the decision to charge their clients was premature and thus should be considered as a special ground for bail to be granted in the matter.
Both Attorneys held that their clients fully cooperated and assisted the police in their investigations. They are willing to comply with any conditions set by the court, the lawyers said.
Waldron argued that his client (Ghanie) was nowhere near the premises where the drug was discovered. He explained that whilst his client was a manager of the Sawmill, he had to be contacted and told to report to the scene of the crime, on the day in question.
Kumar argued that more than 20 days had elapsed since her client, Walsh, a forklift operator had handled the cargo of lumber in which the illegal substance was unearthed.
The lawyer explained that the container of lumber was already sent to the shipping centre and had been there for more than three weeks when officials of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) detected some discrepancies which resulted in the cargo being pulled off the wharf and taken back to sawmill, where the discovery was made.
As such she claimed that the substance could have been placed there by virtually anyone.
CANU Prosecutor Donald Downer opposed the bail applications. While Downer revealed to the court that investigations are ongoing, he pointed out that the accused are before the court for a significant quantity of drugs and the court must first be provided with special reason for bail to be granted in such a matter.
Downer also held that the men were charged based on advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
However Magistrate Wilson decided to grant both men bail citing that the CANU’s investigations are incomplete and that other suspects are still being detained.
Bail was set at $350,000 for each accused, on condition that they lodge their travel documents with CANU and report to the unit’s headquarters twice weekly pending the determination of the matter.