Bartica dispatcher, taxi driver charged with drug trafficking

A 38-year-old dispatcher and a 36-year-old taxi driver from Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), have been charged separately for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Omaywattie Persaud, 38, of Fifth Avenue, Bartica, Essequibo River, was arrested on Sunday and charged on Wednesday under Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Chapter 10:10.
Persaud appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday before Magistrate Caressa Henry, where the charge was read to her.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted $900,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to October 30.
Also charged was Leon Alert, 36, a taxi driver of Fifth Avenue, Bartica.
The alert was also arrested on Sunday and also charged on Wednesday under the same section of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
He appeared before Magistrate Henry, pleaded not guilty and was granted $75,000 bail. The case was adjourned to October 26.
The charges stem from a Police investigation that began on Sunday following the discovery of more than 5.6 kilograms of suspected narcotics during separate searches in Bartica.
According to Police, at about 16:08h that day, ranks acting on information went to a property in Bartica, where they contacted Persaud and conducted a search.
A cardboard box wrapped in a plastic bag was found in the front portion of the yard. The box contained seven bulky parcels. Six contained leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, while the seventh contained a whitish, rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine.
The suspected cannabis reportedly weighed 4506 grams (g), while the suspected cocaine weighed 1107g.
As the investigation continued, Police arrested a 43-year-old businessman of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, who was reportedly in the company of Alert at the time of his apprehension.
A search of the motor car in their presence allegedly resulted in the discovery of a plastic bag containing a whitish, rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine in the driver’s-side pocket.
The substance reportedly weighed 2.7g.
The businessman was also taken into custody as part of the investigation.