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LOKNAUTH Danesur, the Manager of New So Coco Packaging Plant was sentenced to four years imprisonment yesterday and fined $30,000 for conspiring to traffic cocaine in coconut milk that was intercepted in Malaysia earlier this month. Danesur, 30, of Lot 1 Coldingen, also on East Coast Demerara, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
He admitted that, between August 1 and November 20, he conspired together with persons unknown to conceal a quantity of cocaine in coconut milk cans.
A former employee of the same company also made an appearance in the court, charged on two counts of trafficking in narcotics.
Vijay Bisraj also known as Amar and Dinesh, 25, of Lot 57 First Street, Section B, Non Pareil, on East Coast Demerara, as well, pleaded not guilty to having trafficked in a quantity of cocaine concealed in two cans of coconut milk, on November 26.
He also denied that, between August 1 and September 20, at Lot 1 Coldingen, he conspired together with persons unknown to traffic more cocaine concealed in coconut milk.
An expert
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah told the court that Danesur, being an expert in sealing metal cans, accepted a quantity of cocaine and concealed it the coconut milk and an ongoing investigation led to his arrest and he admitted committing the offence.
According to Massiah, officers were unable to determine the amount of cocaine concealed in the coconut milk cans that were boxed and shipped to Malaysia.
Danesur said he was sorry for what he did and had no idea where the cocaine was going.
He claimed that he was paid $100,000 to do the job and had been promised $1M more when the narcotic would have reached its destination.
The prisoner said he needed the money because he has three children and was not working for sufficient.
Massiah informed that Bisraj worked 10 years at the packaging plant before leaving to become a fisherman and used his expertise in sealing cans to conspire with unknown persons to conceal the cocaine in the cans.
The prosecutor said Bisraj was in possession of two cans of cocaine at his home.
Massiah said the defendant, having been ‘shortchanged’ for the job he did at the packaging plant, decided to take the two cans of cocaine for himself.
Attorney-at-law Ms. Shellon Boyce, representing Bisraj, acknowledged that two cans were found in his home but said he was not there and several other persons have access to the house.
Was beaten
The lawyer alleged that Bisraj was beaten by CANU officers and several threats were made to him and his family.
Bisraj was remanded to prison until December 7 and will make his next appearance at Vigilance Court, on East Coast Demerara, too.
Previous reports said 76 kilogrammes of liquid cocaine in coconut milk was on its way to Mozambique when Malaysian authorities, acting on a tip-off, seized 16 cartons containing 384 tins containing coconut milk and pineapple.
The cocaine was worth US$7.1M, the Malaysian informant was told by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (USDEA).
He admitted that, between August 1 and November 20, he conspired together with persons unknown to conceal a quantity of cocaine in coconut milk cans.
A former employee of the same company also made an appearance in the court, charged on two counts of trafficking in narcotics.
Vijay Bisraj also known as Amar and Dinesh, 25, of Lot 57 First Street, Section B, Non Pareil, on East Coast Demerara, as well, pleaded not guilty to having trafficked in a quantity of cocaine concealed in two cans of coconut milk, on November 26.
He also denied that, between August 1 and September 20, at Lot 1 Coldingen, he conspired together with persons unknown to traffic more cocaine concealed in coconut milk.
An expert
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah told the court that Danesur, being an expert in sealing metal cans, accepted a quantity of cocaine and concealed it the coconut milk and an ongoing investigation led to his arrest and he admitted committing the offence.
According to Massiah, officers were unable to determine the amount of cocaine concealed in the coconut milk cans that were boxed and shipped to Malaysia.
Danesur said he was sorry for what he did and had no idea where the cocaine was going.
He claimed that he was paid $100,000 to do the job and had been promised $1M more when the narcotic would have reached its destination.
The prisoner said he needed the money because he has three children and was not working for sufficient.
Massiah informed that Bisraj worked 10 years at the packaging plant before leaving to become a fisherman and used his expertise in sealing cans to conspire with unknown persons to conceal the cocaine in the cans.
The prosecutor said Bisraj was in possession of two cans of cocaine at his home.
Massiah said the defendant, having been ‘shortchanged’ for the job he did at the packaging plant, decided to take the two cans of cocaine for himself.
Attorney-at-law Ms. Shellon Boyce, representing Bisraj, acknowledged that two cans were found in his home but said he was not there and several other persons have access to the house.
Was beaten
The lawyer alleged that Bisraj was beaten by CANU officers and several threats were made to him and his family.
Bisraj was remanded to prison until December 7 and will make his next appearance at Vigilance Court, on East Coast Demerara, too.
Previous reports said 76 kilogrammes of liquid cocaine in coconut milk was on its way to Mozambique when Malaysian authorities, acting on a tip-off, seized 16 cartons containing 384 tins containing coconut milk and pineapple.
The cocaine was worth US$7.1M, the Malaysian informant was told by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (USDEA).
