Convicted drug trafficker remanded for coke find at Post Office

Jan 25, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Four years after he was convicted for trafficking some 654 pounds of cocaine, Dennis Albert Jones was yesterday remanded for allegedly attempting to post more cocaine.

The custard/baking powder packages and Banko wine bottles, containing cocaine, that were seized.

According to reports, the 63-year-old man of Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown was arrested shortly after he attempted to ship cocaine in baking powder bags and Banko wine to Canada. The shipment was made at the General Post Office Corporation (GPOC).
Ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted a box containing the prohibited substance. The package was due to leave Guyana last Friday evening.
A total of nine kilograms of cocaine was found in baking/custard powder bags. Another 1.62 kilograms of liquid cocaine was found in two bottles of Banko wine.
Jones appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded not guilty to a narcotic charge.
It is alleged that on January 20 at GPOC, Jones trafficked 10.618 kilograms of cocaine posted by him in the Georgetown Magisterial District.
It is further alleged that between September 1 and 30, 2016 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Jones forged a Republic of Guyana identification card in the name Josiah Jones, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
Jones who was represented by Attorney Eusi Anderson pleaded not guilty to both allegations after they were read to him. During his petition for bail, Attorney Anderson told the court that his client was denying the forgery allegation. He said that his client was curious as to why he was now being placed before the court for the offence since it happened last year.
Admitting that Jones was convicted for a similar offence (narcotics trafficking), the attorney pointed out that his client has since turned his life around. Attorney Anderson also claimed that his client was offered several inducements by law enforcement officers to take a certain course in relation to the narcotics charge.
CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford opposed bail for the defendant citing that he is still under investigation in relation to other packages he had posted. Prosecutor Sandiford contended that there is overwhelming evidence against Jones, in the form of a caution statement, outlining the intricate details of his conduct in the offence.
The prosecutor pointed out that there is video surveillance footage from the GPOC. She also contended that Jones is a flight risk. Sandiford said that when police went to arrest Jones he was found hiding in the ceiling of his home. According to Prosecutor Sandiford, in 2012, Jones was convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment for trafficking some 654 pounds of cocaine in soap powder.
Based on reports, Jones was busted after he attempted to ship the cocaine to an African state. Reports also state that Jones was deported from the United States of America for drug trafficking.
Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers objected to bail for Jones on the forgery allegation.
He highlighted the particulars of the charge and nature of the offence.
Prosecutor Jeffers informed the court that the identification card was found in the defendant’s home with his photograph inserted. Jeffers said that Jones confessed to creating the document.
Jeffers informed the court that GECOM has no records of issuing the identification document.
In relation to both matters, Jones will return to court on February 14.

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