Ex CANU officer, outgoing passenger jailed for cocaine in shoe soles

Jun 14, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Former Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) officer, Kurt Sunich, and another man were yesterday jailed for

JAILED: Kurt Sunich

four years and fined over $1.6M each, after they were convicted for trafficking cocaine in shoe soles last year. They were arrested at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Sunich, 30, and Israel George, 22, were found guilty of conspiring with a person or persons known and unknown to traffic 580 grams of cocaine on July 3, 2015 at the airport.
According to court facts, the cocaine was hidden in two shoe soles in the toilet of the departure lounge. The illicit substance was neatly packed in the shoe soles and was placed in the area for George to collect. At the time he was an outgoing passenger.
However, their plan to carry the illicit drug to the United States of America failed when CANU officer, Andrew Yarde, went to the male washroom and discovered the shoe-shaped objects.
It was discovered that the drug was placed there for George to collect.
George made checks for the drug in the toilet tank but was later arrested by CANU ranks after they overheard him in a suspicious telephone conversation.
Yarde later went to George’s home and seized two shoes which had no shoe soles.
During the summing up of evidence, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan said that Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers was able to prove all the elements of the offence.
She said that the prosecutor was able to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt against Sunich and George.

JAILED: Israel George

Magistrate McLennan added that she believed the two men had knowledge of the agreement and intended to play a part. As such, she affirmed that based on evidence led during the trial she was satisfied that they conspired with persons to traffic narcotic.
In mitigation, Attorney Euclin Gomes said that Sunich has accepted the ruling of the court and is very remorseful. He also asked the court to impose the minimal sentence that the law permits.
An Attorney for George also echoed the same sentiments as Gomes.
Prosecutor Jeffers told the court that the men had no antecedents and informed the court that the street value of the drugs multiplied by three is $1.6 million which the men were each ordered to pay.
Sunich and George made their first court appearance on July 7, last, and had denied the allegation. They were remanded to prison but were subsequently released on High Court bail.

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