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Cocaine busts at CJIA lands women in court
Two women yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to
Nanda Ali
drug trafficking charges.
Vanessa Harper, 30, of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara and Nanda Ali, 39, of Annandale, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charges that were read to them at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Harper is accused of having 5.75 kg of cocaine, while Ali is accused of having 6.18 kg. Both women were allegedly found with the illegal drug on May 15, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, (CJIA) Timehri.
According to Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah, Harper is unemployed and she made arrangements with someone to traffic the drug. He said that on the day in question, the defendant was scheduled to travel to the USA.
Massiah said that the woman was promised $US5, 000 to transport the drug. She was given an advance of $100,000 along with US$3,000 to stand her personal expenses.
While Harper was at the CJIA, before boarding her flight her luggage was searched by CANU ranks and the drug was found concealed in the covers of her suitcases.
Massiah stated that Ali also arranged with someone unknown, to transport the drug. He said that after the woman consented to the arrangements she was also promised US$5,000.
On May 15, at the CJIA, Ali was scheduled to travel to the USA. Upon arrival at the airport her
Vanessa Harper
suitcases were searched by CANU ranks and the drug was discovered in the cover and bottom part of her suitcases.
They were both told of the offences, cautioned, arrested and then charged.
Attorney, Dexter Todd, who made a bail application on Harper’s behalf, informed the court that the woman has two children. He added, too that his client has no pending or previous matters.
Ali’s attorney, Peter Hugh, asked that his client be released on reasonable bail. He argued that his client has an unblemished criminal record.
However, CANU Prosecutor Oswald Massiah objected to the defendants being granted their pre trial liberty. Massiah contended that the special reasons advanced by the Attorneys, do not support their bail application.
Bail was refused by the Magistrate and the defendants were remanded to prison.
Both matters will be called again on May 25, at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
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