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$550M cocaine-in-lumber bust…Trial delayed as prisoners unable to attend court
Last Sunday’s jailbreak and fire at the Camp Street prison has had a significant effect on the timely hearing of matters at courts throughout the country. 
It was no different yesterday, when the trial of four men accused of aiding another to traffic over 187 pounds of cocaine was postponed as a result of two of them- who are remand prisoners-being unable to attend court.
Former Customs officer, Sherwayne De Abreu, of Section a Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, and Tazim Gafoor of Menzies Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara were unable make an appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court due to the present disarray in the prison system.
In light of the situation, Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool adjourned the matter until September 13 for commencement of trial which will continue on September 15.
In doing so, Magistrate Liverpool said it is only fair that the prisoners be present for the trial since their absence is no fault of theirs.
Their co-accused Stephen Vieira, of 37 Middle Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown and Nazim Gafoor, the son of Tazim Gafoor were each granted $5M bail last month by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George. They have posted the hefty sum.
They were ordered to report to the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) Headquarters until the determination of the matter and to lodge their passports.
It is alleged that between March 1 and May 12 at Narine Lall Sawmill, they aided Hakim Mohamed to traffic 84.986 kilograms of cocaine.
The cocaine is said to be worth some $550M.
CANU had detained Mohamed but he has not been charged. Lall was charged in absentia for trafficking in narcotics. A warrant has been issued for his arrest since he is said to be out of the country.
Kaieteur News understands that the bust was made after CANU officials received a tip off on May 12. When they acted, the boards were being packed onto a truck.
The truck driver and porters were arrested but were subsequently released after it was discovered that the vehicle and its workers were hired to transport the timber.
The drug agency in a release said that ranks conducted a search at the parapet in front of the premises of Mohamed and searched a truck laden with several pallets of 1×6 dressed lumber boards prepared for export. Several pieces of boards were drilled randomly by the ranks and revealed a whitish substance.
The lumber was packed at a sawmill located at Lookout, East Bank Essequibo belonging to Narine Lall to be transported to a wharf in Georgetown and then shipped to the United States of America, CANU stated.
CANU in a statement said that Vieira is listed on the shipping documents as a representative of the shipper, Lall.
According to CANU, Tazim was placed before the court charged for his role in another cocaine matter. The 43-year-old man was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, last year September following the discovery of over nine kilograms of cocaine.
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