A shopkeeper was yesterday remanded to prison on two drug charges, including conspiracy to traffic cocaine, after he was implicated by the woman who was recently jailed for trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country in her private parts.
Warren Stuffle, a father of six of Lot 3 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, pleaded not guilty to both charges when he was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
It is alleged that between September 4th and November 4th, at Sussex Street, Charlestown, Stuffle conspired with Shanda Nichols to traffic 416 grammes of cocaine. It is also alleged that on November 4th, at Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, he had six grammes of cocaine in his possession for trafficking.
Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones, who objected to bail, told the court that Nichols was arrested at the Ogle International Airport for attempting to traffick 416 grammes of cocaine in her private parts on September 4th. She was sentenced to three years in jail last week after she admitted to the offence.
Jones informed the court that when Nichols was questioned by ranks about who provided her with the substance, she implicated Stuffle and also indicated her willingness to testify against him.
He said as a result of the information the woman provided, ranks went to the home of the defendant and a search uncovered the six grammes of cocaine in one of his pockets.
Stuffle was represented by attorney Euclin Gomes, who blamed the charges on an ongoing feud between his client and ranks of the Narcotics Branch of the police force.
The magistrate found that no special reasons were provided for Stuffle to be granted bail and therefore remanded him to prison.
He is expected to make his next court appearance on November 23rd before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
