‘Zipper’ cocaine trial draws to a close

Jun 29, 2018 News

After months of trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly yesterday said that she had found sufficient evidence against businessman, Andre Gomes, known as ‘Zipper’ – who is charged for trafficking cocaine – and told the court that she will rule on the matter on July 9.
Gomes, 57, of 32 Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, is currently on remand for having in his possession 992 grams of cocaine.
He denied the charge which alleged that on January 30, last, he had the aforementioned amount of the illicit drug for the purpose of trafficking.
Yesterday after the Magistrate ruled that a prima facie case had been established, the man’s lawyer Mark Waldron told the court that his client would like to give an unsworn testimony.
Gomes, in his unsworn testimony to the court, stated “My name is Andre Gomes and I live at Lot 32 Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.”
The matter is being prosecuted by Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford.
According to reports, CANU ranks, acting on information, conducted an operation in Craig Street at the residence of Gomes where a quantity of narcotics (992 grams of cocaine) , cash, jewellery and other valuables were seized.
On Gomes’ first appearance, his lawyer had told the court that his client is the owner of D&D Pawn Shop. He added that the cocaine was not found at his client’s premises, but in the alleyway next to the house.
Last year, CANU issued a wanted bulletin for Gomes in relation to nine kilograms of cocaine found in a gas cylinder. The gas cylinder was discovered at an apartment which he rented for his 51-year- old girlfriend, Naomi Persaud.
Persaud was taken into custody with her teenage grandson. She pleaded guilty to the charge. She was jailed for four years and fined $21M.
As a result of her guilty plea, the charge was dismissed against the teen.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News