The lengthy testimony of the key witness in the $550 million cocaine bust of May 2017 at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on Tuesday began before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
The key witness, Hakeem Mohammed, gave his testimony to the court against the five accused – Tazim and Nazim Gafoor; Sherwin DeAbreu; bike racer, Stephen Vieira; and wanted man, Naraine Lall – as to his involvement in the trafficking of some 84.9 kilograms of cocaine discovered by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks in a shipment of wood in front of his Lot 227 Zeelugt, EBE premises.
Leading the witness, CANU’s Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford questioned him in the presence of Attorneys for the accused, Glenn Hanoman, Latchmie Rahamat, and
From left: Sherwayne DeAbreu, Stephen Vieira, Nazim Gaffor and Tazim Gafoor
Dexter Todd.
However, in his attempt to halt Mohammed’s testimony, Hanoman turned to his knowledge of the Evidence Act Section 59, disclosing to the witness that anyone called to give evidence that will expose him to criminal charges could refuse to do so.
This did not deter Mohammed from revealing what he knew of the drug trafficking group. He gave his account of events which led to the day of the discovery of the drugs by the CANU ranks.
Mohammed testified that he was hired by Naraine Lall to work at his sawmill in Parika, EBE, to assist with electrical issues and cleaning machinery.
While there, he testified to seeing various men including DeAbreu, John Corby, one called “Rasta” bringing cocaine, which were hidden in garbage bags and
Wanted man: Naraine Lall
which were shown to him by Tazim Gafoor, at the sawmill. Tazim Gafoor, he was told by Lall, was his partner.
He revealed that Vieira who they (employees at the sawmill) called “white boy” would visit the sawmill to inspect the cocaine operation. According to Mohammed, he saw him at least four times.
The cocaine was stashed in a special room at the sawmill and later transferred into the consignment of wood which he (Mohammed) used a machine to dig out.
He testified to assisting Tazim Gafoor and “Rasta” in stashing the cocaine inside the wood. After being properly concealed, the wood was left to be shipped.
However, on the day of the bust, he explained that his brother drove the truck which contained the wood with the cocaine while he drove another truck with five bundles of wood to the Guyana National Shipping Corp (GNIC) dock.
The truck being driven by his brother however broke down on its way. Mohammed
The stashed cocaine discovered
revealed that it was later that he was told by Tazim Gafoor and Vieira that they had document issues and the truck had to turn back.
He noted that on that said day, that is May 12, 2017, the reported broken down shipment of wood was taken to his residence to be kept when CANU ranks showed up and made the discovery.
Following his testimony on Tuesday, the accused was crossed examined by Attorneys Latchmie Rahamat and Nigel Hughes.
Rahamat and Hughes in their questioning suggested that the story Mohammed told to the court was made up.
The matter will continue on February 10.
The five accused were all charged and remanded to prison in May of 2017 with aiding Hakeem Mohamed between March 1 and May 12, 2017, in trafficking 84.9 kilograms of cocaine at Narine Lall’s Sawmill at Lookout, Parika.
They were all later granted bail.
