Vieira declares innocence in $550M cocaine in lumber plot

Stephen Vieira
Stephen Vieira

Motorbike racer Stephen Vieira yesterday professed his innocence in an attempt to ship $550 million worth of cocaine in dressed lumber to the United States.

When his trial continued yesterday at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, Vieira professed his innocence in an unsworn statement.

“I wish to state that I am innocent of this charge. I have no knowledge of any narcotics or drugs being placed in any wood. I have absolutely no knowledge of any plan between Hakeem Mohamed and Narine Lall exporting narcotics in lumber,” Vieira told the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, where he is on trial before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool.

Vieira, of Lot 37 Middle and Cummings streets, Georgetown, Tazim Gafoor, Nazim Gafoor and former Drug Enforcement Officer Sherwayne De Abreu are on trial for allegedly having 84.9 kilogrammes of cocaine in their possession between March 1st and May 12th, 2017 at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, for trafficking.

The cocaine was reportedly stashed in lumber at a sawmill at Lookout, East Bank Essequibo, which belonged to Narine Lall, who is still wanted.

“I wish to state that when Narine Lall asked me to assist with the company’s paperwork to export lumber, no mention was made to me of exporting narcotics. I would have never accepted employment with Narine Lall if this was ever told to me. I must state, all paperwork was never filled out by me but by Hakeem Mohamed. I must state that I never packed or prepared any wood for shipment. On the date of inspection, I showed up at the wharf with an inspector. Hakeem Mohamed brought the wood and the same was inspected in my presence and nothing illegal was found in there,” he added.

Mohamed, the prosecution’s key witness in the trial, has testified to having assisted Tazim Gafoor in hiding the parcels of cocaine in the wood as it was being prepared to be shipped out of the country. Mohamed also stated that on the day of the bust by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit, the truck containing the cocaine-stashed lumber was parked at his residence.

Meanwhile, Vieira in his unsworn statement, reiterated that Mohamed had told the inspector that the other truck was experiencing mechanical problems and the inspection was called off.

“I left, I went home and I don’t know where the second wood was coming from, I didn’t know who packed it. The only wood I saw that day was the wood Hakeem Mohamed brought with a truck to the GNIC wharf and the same wood was inspected in my presence,” Vieira said.

The case is expected to continue today with the other three accused leading their defence.