American woman accused of cocaine-in-fish possession refused bail

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 May 2014, 19:59 by GxMedia

A 53-year old United States citizen , who allegedly attempted to smuggle a huge quantity of cocaine in frozen fish to New York,  on Thursday pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison.

She is 53-year old Joyce De Cunha of New York will next appear at the Providence Magistrates’ Court on June 2.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, the woman was unrepresented when the charge was read to her.

The Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) accused her of having 3.498 kilogrammes of cocaine in her possession for the purpose  of trafficking while being an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on May 28.

CANU Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah told the court that De Cunha arrived in Guyana on April 9. He said investigators were told by the accused that someone only known as “Fine Man” gave her a parcel to take to New York and someone at the John F. Kennedy International Airport was expected to uplift it from her.