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Cocaine in cream liqueur…Mother with baby nabbed at airport, indicted for drug trafficking
A 23-year-old mother who was allegedly nabbed with cocaine by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers whilst preparing to board a Fly Jamaica flight on Republic Day with her two-month-old daughter was yesterday brought to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to be indicted for drug trafficking.
The substance was found concealed in bottles of cream liqueur.
Tishana Edwards
According to CANU, on February 23, Tishana Edwards of Lot 2 Victoria Road, Sparendaam, who was at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, had 2.092 kilograms of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.
When the charge was read to the woman she pleaded not guilty and submitted a bail application through her lawyer, but the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry ordered her held until Friday (February 28).
The prosecution team was led by Special Prosecutor attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Branch Oswald Massiah, who briefed the court that the drug was unearthed as her suitcase was being scanned before she boarded the flight destined for the United States of America.
Massiah claimed that Edwards had previously applied to be a member of CANU, but after the interview she was not considered for the post.
He told the court that last Thursday (February 20), Edwards was approached by one “Bertha” (for whom no title or address has been given) and asked if she would be willing to make a trip to the US and transport three bottles of cream liqueur.
According to the Prosecutor, Edwards accepted the offer and the arrangements were made for the trip. He related that shortly after Bertha handed over the items, she fled the jurisdiction and the following day the accused packed her suitcase placing the bottles therein.
However, as the suitcase was being passed through the scanner, a CANU officer reportedly noticed the two bottles and decided to check the luggage. Checks revealed that the seals were broken which arose the officer’s suspicion.
The Prosecution claimed that further checks on the bottles revealed that the substance was concealed therein. As a result, she was then taken to CANU headquarters, where the substance was weighed and she was charged with the offence.
According to her lawyer who held on behalf of George Thomas, Edwards was told that she would be locked up and the baby would be taken away if she did not confess to the crime.
In making her bail application, the attorney told the court that her client is a self-employed cosmetologist who has a two and a half month old baby who needs to be nursed. She argued that Edwards is not a flight risk and has no priors.
Notwithstanding her bail application, the Chief Magistrate refused bail and she was remanded to prison. The matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court where it will engage the attention of Magistrate Leron Daly.
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