Two prominent New Amsterdam businessmen, allegedly held with 10.1 kilos (equivalent to over 22 pounds) of cocaine on Monday, were on Thursday charged with trafficking in narcotics.
Tito Sancho, 28, proprietor of the Candy Shop and Winston Wade, 29, who owns the Desire Clothing boutique, were refused bail by Magistrate Krishndat Persaud at the Springlands Court, which heard that the drugs, estimated at a street value of $10M, were found concealed beneath the front fender and the back bumper of the car. They both pleaded not guilty to the offence and have been remanded to prison until November 22 when the case comes up again.
Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Michael Grant informed the magistrate that the defendants along with another suspect were at the Moleson Creek Ferry Stelling, when the police unearthed the cocaine in the car.
They were all standing around the car when the other suspect jumped back in suddenly and fled. He was driving along the Line Path, Skeldon public road when the vehicle crashed, but he still managed to escape and he is still at large. The car was taken to the Springlands Police Station, where a search unearthed the cocaine. Two women that had also been arrested in the bust but were later released.
Grant objected to bail on the grounds of the nature and gravity of the offence and of the amount cocaine that was found. He submitted too that for bail to be considered for those types of offences, special circumstances must be advanced.
In his application for bail, attorney Peter Hugh, who represented Wade, argued that the cocaine was not found on the defendants’ persons and cited that as special circumstances. However, Magistrate Persaud did not accept his application and remanded them to prison.
Sancho has retained attorney Mursaline Bacchus but he was not present at court.
