Teen among 3 slapped with cocaine trafficking charges

A 14-year-old lad was on Friday arraigned with three men before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on charges of trafficking 10.078 kilograms (22 lbs) of cocaine.
The men arraigned: Ricardo Denhart, 47; Patrick Ram, and Denzil Park, 49, all denied the charge when it was read to them. The lad has also denied the charge.
The court heard that on August 14, 2018, while in the parking lot of Popeye’s Fast Food restaurant at Vlissengen Road and Duncan Street, Georgetown, the quartet trafficked the prohibited substance.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield detailed that, on the day in question, ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were on an intelligence-led operation when they swooped down on the men.
It is alleged that the CANU ranks witnessed when one of the men exited motorcar

PWW 8454 and handed a shopping bag to another, who was seated in minibus PKK 6944.
After witnessing the exchange, CANU ranks allegedly intercepted and searched both vehicles, unearthing several “bricks” which were wrapped in parcels hidden behind the driver’s seat of the minibus. The parcels were examined and later proved to be cocaine.
The court was informed that the ranks have also gathered close circuit television footage from the restaurant showing the exchange.
After listening to the prosecution’s submission, Magistrate McLennan released the teen on $200,000, bail but remanded the three adults.
The matter is expected to continue on August 31.