A Brazilian in the Rupununi and a Venezuelan at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri were charged separately with trafficking in narcotics when they appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton yesterday.
Brazilian Winsburg Costa DaSilva pleaded guilty to having in his possession 942 grammes of cannabis at Tabatinga, Rupununi for the purpose of trafficking.
Police Prosecutor Joel Ricknauth told the court that on the day in question, the police stopped the defendant and conducted a search of a box he had in his possession and the suspected narcotics was found. He was then told of the offence committed, cautioned and arrested. The suspected narcotics was weighed and amounted to 942 grammes.
Dasilva, responding through an interpreter, said that he did not have the chance to explain anything to the police when he was arrested. He said that he did not buy the cannabis but was asked to “pass it”. He added that a Brazilian with a firearm was behind him and threatened him to “pass it”.
He said he received the box from the man at a shop in Lethem and was asked to take it to Brazil. He was then sentenced to four years imprisonment by the magistrate and fined $800,000.
Meanwhile, Ivan Morales Castillo, a Venezuelan national, was also charged with trafficking in narcotics. It is alleged that on Wednesday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport he trafficked in narcotics amounting to 1.954 kg of cocaine by attempting to export the drug. He pleaded not guilty.
He is being represented by attorney Peter Hugh, who asked for the earliest possible date. The matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for April 6.
