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CANU, GRA witnesses testify in $2B cocaine case
The trial of Gilbert Andre Bristol, the man accused of smuggling G$2 billion worth of cocaine, which was discovered in fish food bound for China last December, was called up before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Two witnesses have since given sworn testimony in the matter.
Gilbert Andre Bristol
Called to the stand yesterday was Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) officer Donald Downer. This was his second appearance in relation to the narcotics case. Downer testified that rewards, threats or inducement were not used in the procurement of statements from the accused.
CANU Prosecutor Oswald Massiah re-examined the witness. Downer told the court that on December 8, 2012, acting on information which was acquired from the defendant, in relation to his address, he went to Lot 54 Garnett Street, Newtown. He verified that Bristol lived in the front apartment of the one-flat pink concrete structure located at the said address.
Downer said that the defendant had told him that he was the shipper of the goods and that his establishment was located at the same residence.
The CANU officer said that he subsequently found documents that supported that the accused was indeed involved in the shipping of the now seized merchandise.
It is alleged that on December 7, 2012, Bristol attempted to export 233 kilograms of cocaine, found in a quantity of fish food via Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC) Wharf.
The father of two, allegedly holds a licence to import and export goods. He had made arrangements to ship fish feed to Hong Kong, China. On December 7, while in the process of shipping the 1500 bags of fish food, the scanner used by Guyana Revenue Authority officials detected something unusual. It was later revealed that a quantity of cocaine pellets worth approximately G$2 billion had been unearthed. The drug was hidden between the bags of fish food which were destined for Angel International Logistic Limited, Hong Kong, China.
Attorney-at-Law Peter Hugh is representing Bristol. The case is adjourned until June 3, when additional GRA and CANU witnesses will take the stand.
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