Zipper further remanded to prison on cocaine possession charges

Businessman Andre “Zipper” Gomes was on Thursday further remanded by Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly on a charge of trafficking cocaine, in a matter which has its genesis in the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) last year issuing a wanted bulletin for the former murder accused in relation to nine kilograms of cocaine being found in a gas cylinder at an apartment which he had rented for his 51-year-old girlfriend, Naomi Persaud.
A search had allegedly been carried out last year at the residence of the 57-year-old defendant at Lot 32 Craig Street, Campbellville Georgetown, during which 992 grams of cocaine, an undisclosed sum of cash, and a quantity of jewellery were seized.
Defence Attorney Mark Waldron on Thursday informed Magistrate Daly that the defence is ready to go ahead with the case, once the submissions are received. Waldron said the cocaine was not found on the premises of his client, but in an alleyway next to the house.
However, CANU Prosecutor Konyo Thompson informed the court that eyewitness accounts indicated otherwise. She also noted that the court was given no special reason for the defendant to be placed on bail.
As such, the businessman was further remanded to prison, and the matter was adjourned to June 18.
Zipper’s girlfriend, Persaud, had, on August 6, 2017, been taken into custody with her 17-year-old grandson on an accusation of being in possession of nine kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Arraigned for the offence, the Lot 25 Delph Street, Campbellville, Georgetown resident had pleaded guilty to the charges, and was jailed for four years and fined $21 million. As a result of her guilty plea, the charge was dismissed against her teenage grandson.