Remanded U.S. deportee recruited cocaine courier

UNITED States deportee Robin Wills, of Lot 625 Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, was, yesterday, refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, on a drug trafficking charge.He pleaded not guilty to the offence, which alleged that, on November 17, 2013, at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he had 2.232 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah said, on November 9, a female arrived in Guyana for the funeral of her stepfather and made contact with the defendant whom she knew previously.
Wills offered the woman assistance to renew her passport and joined the company of herself and a sister, who resides in Berbice.
He also entertained both of them to recreational activities in the city and provided them accommodation at a guest house, during which time, he requested help from the overseas sibling to take two bottles of cream liqueur to the U.S.
The Prosecutor said Wills undertook to provide transportation for their travel to the airport and hired a car to collect the sister from Berbice and the liquor at his Republic Park address.
He took the two bottles that contained the illegal substance, opened the woman’s suitcase and placed them amongst her clothes and they left for the airport.
At the airport, he stayed with the driver while the two sisters took the suitcase to the check-in area and, during the procedure at the CJIA, the suspected cocaine was found in the suitcase among the woman’s clothing and she was arrested and taken to CANU Headquarters where further investigations were carried out.
Massiah said efforts were made to contact the defendant but to no avail. However, after a wanted bulletin was issued for Wills, he turned himself in and was positively identified with the aid of the sister residing in Guyana.
The Prosecutor objected to bail for Wills, citing, the quantum of the illegal substance involved and the fact that the defendant is capable of tampering with the witness.
The objection was upheld and the case was transferred to Providence Court for February 5.