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Cargo loader faces drug trafficking charge in city bust
Jul 16, 2014 News
A cargo loader was charged in a city court yesterday with trafficking cocaine aboard a local vessel destined for the interior.
Junior Squires, 31, was allegedly busted two days ago by a party of police ranks at the wharf in Kingston, Georgetown, with 2.530 kilograms of cocaine. According to the charge he faced, the drug was intended for trafficking purposes.
Responding to the charge before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, Squires, a father of one, pleaded not guilty and submitted a bail application through his lawyer, Clive Forde.
Recapping incidents leading to the drug bust, Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru, explained that Squires was employed on a cargo vessel which travels from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. On that day, the vessel was docked at the Kingston wharf and the accused reportedly gave the captain a small suitcase claiming it contained clothes that he wished to be transported to Port Kaituma.
The Prosecution stated that it was about 21:30 hours that police ranks, acting on information received, ventured to the wharf and searched the vessel, during which a small suitcase was found in the captain’s cabin.
Further checks of the luggage reportedly revealed that the illicit substance was concealed in five parcels in a carton.
Mangru noted that ranks found a photo of the defendant as well as a slip for his daughter’s school in the suitcase. When confronted by ranks, Squires denied ownership of the drug. Further investigations led to the accused being charged for drug trafficking.
Submitting an application for bail, Forde stated that this was the first time his client had been brought before any court of law and that the item was given to him as part of his job. The lawyer stated that his client had no knowledge of what was contained in the suitcase.
His application was, however, met with objections from the Prosecutor who opined that no special reason was raised by defence for bail to be granted to the accused. He asked the court to also consider the quantum and remand Squires to prison.
The Chief Magistrate refused bail and transferred the case to Magistrate Fabayo Azore. The case is set to be called again today.
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