2 remanded for 94-kilo cocaine bust on Pomeroon River

Two farmers from Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) who were fingered in a recent drug bust on the Pomeroon River were on Thursday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and charged for trafficking in just over 94 kilograms of cocaine.
Forty-five-year-old John DaSilva of Grant Strong Hope, Pomeroon; and Kevin Fitz Gordon, 34, of Jim Housing Scheme on the Essequibo Coast, were both represented by Attorney Mark Waldron who contended that his clients had no antecedents or pending matters before the courts. They both pleaded not guilty to the joint charge and were remanded to the Lusignan holding facility on the East Coast of Demerara.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford requested four weeks for the disclosure of statements and the matter was transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court to be heard on August 28.
Guyana Times previously reported that the two men were taken into custody by CANU on Monday, following the discovery of the illicit substance in several well-wrapped packages aboard a vessel on the Pomeroon River.
Reports reaching this publication revealed the vessel was stopped and searched by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard which led to the illegal drug being unearthed. The men and the suspected cocaine were then transported to CANU’s headquarters where they were interrogated and processed for court.
It is yet unclear whether the vessel is owned by Guyanese or originated from neighbouring Venezuela. However, investigations are ongoing.