Baggage handlers arrested for cocaine in Toronto-bound CAL aircraft

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

Two baggage handlers have been arrested in connection with the discovery of 2.2 kilogrammes of cocaine in the baggage-hold of a Toronto-bound Caribbean Airlines (CAL) aircraft, a senior anti-drug agent said Saturday.

The official said the baggage handlers are employed by a local handling company for  CAL at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Charges could be laid against the duo by the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) early in the new week, the source said.

Meanwhile, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) said “there is strong evidence to suggest that staff from more than one agency were working in collusion to facilitate this illegal activity.”

The aircraft had touched down at Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 12:11 hrs from Trinidad to pick up passengers enroute to Toronto, Canada.

After all baggage was offloaded from the aft hold, airline security conducted a sweep of the hold as per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). “It was during this exercise; two packages of the illegal substance were discovered,” said the airport authority.