Businessman charged in connection with charcoal cocaine

Last Updated on Friday, 3 April 2015, 3:04 by GxMedia

A 58-year-old businessman was on Friday, April 2 refused bail at the Georgetown Magistrates Court on a drug trafficking charge.

Colin Clyde Prescott of Linden, pleaded not guilty to the charge, when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. 

Particulars of which said on March 30 at Silver Hill, Linden Soesdyke Highway, he was busted with 178 kilogrammes of cocaine, for the purpose of trafficking.

According to prosecution facts, ranks acting on information swooped down at the said location and discovered a large quantity of cocaine among hundreds of bags of charcoal that was being prepared for shipment.

Approximately 2,900 bags of charcoals were secured in two 40ft containers that were destined for the United States.

 The substance was packed into a container at Sliver Hill, Linden before transporting same to the city wharf. 

He was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to Linden Court for report and fixtures on April 15.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said the has said that the bust was carried out during a 100 percent check on the containers. The Container Control Programme, which was funded by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), played a key role in identifying the containers for examination.