THREE men were on Monday released on $2M bail each by Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court for trafficking $24M in cocaine.

The men, Khemraj Lall, 39, of Zeelugt EBE; Marlon Lawrence, 36 of Felicity, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Cleve Thornhill were on Monday released on bail pending a plea for their release.

The other co-accused, Rajendra Persaud, 47 of Liliendaal, ECD; Doodnauth Chattgroon, 36 of Zeelugt, were last week released on $1M and $1.5M bail respectively in the High Court.
The five men are jointly charged with trafficking 35 kilograms of cannabis and 13.8 kilograms of cocaine on June 6, 2018 at Parika. All the men pleaded not guilty.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford told the court that CANU ranks on June 6, 2018 at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, intercepted the five men with the cocaine and cannabis stashed in false bottoms of two 15-gallon gas bottles.

According to reports, CANU was able to make the bust after receiving information regarding a shipment of drugs arriving at Parika from Charity in a speed boat.

Acting on the information received, CANU officers then went to the Parika location where they intercepted motor vehicles PSS 8019 and PVV 7934. In one motor car were Lawrence and Persaud, while Thornhill and the other co-accused were in the other.

The vehicles were searched and two blue 15-gallon gas bottles were found with the bottoms cut and covered with brown paste. A further examination of the containers revealed several packages with some containing cannabis and others containing the suspected cocaine.

The matter is adjourned until October 8.