A BUSINESSMAN and taxi driver of Lot 603 Fort Ordinance, Canje, Berbice who was accused of having cocaine-laden pastries while being an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Sunday was refused bail yesterday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.Nicholas Harinandan, 37, pleaded not guilty to the offence that said on April 6 at the CJIA, he had in his possession 7.5 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
QUOTE: Mittai, cheese rolls, pine tart contained cocaine sealed in plastic, and liquid cocaine was in the sole of Clark’s footwear – court hears
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah said Harinandan is the holder of a visitor’s visa to the United States and on the day in question, he was an outgoing passenger on Caribbean Airlines flight BW 526 and checked in two suitcases, one black and the other red. When he went to the scanning machine to have his luggage scanned, the CANU officer on duty identified himself and asked the defendant about his suitcases and he told the officer that it contained clothing, pastries, food, seasoning and footwear.
The CANU officer enquired from the defendant if he had packed his suitcase himself and if anyone gave him anything to take to the US and he replied ‘no’ and told the officer that everything belonged to him. Then with Harinanadan’s consent the officer conducted a search on a quantity of pastries and when he broke one of the mittai, he found a whitish substance believed to be the illegal drug cocaine. Harinanadan was told of the offence, cautioned by the said rank and subsequently escorted to the CANU headquarters along with the suitcases.
A further search revealed that mittai, cheese rolls, pine tart contained the prohibited substance sealed in plastic, and the sole of a pair of Clark’s footwear contained liquid cocaine.
He was represented by attorney-at-law Mr. Peter Hugh who told the court that his client has no prior conviction but one pending speeding ticket matter.
Harinanadan was remanded to prison and the case was transferred to Providence Magistrate’s Court for April 14.
By Geeta Rampersaud