TWO persons appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday, charged with attempting to smuggle protected birds out of Guyana without a legal permit to do so. Danwattie Persaud pleaded guilty to the offence, which stated that on April 27, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), without obtaining the necessary permit, attempted to smuggle out of Guyana several Towa-Towa birds along with other species without being the holder of an export/ import licence.
According to the facts, Persaud was an outgoing passenger on a flight destined for JFK International Airport, New York. Police ranks stationed at the airport searched her handbag and found the birds concealed in hair curlers.
The unrepresented woman explained in court that she was given the birds by someone to take to the United States. Magistrate McLennan imposed a fine of $140,000 and in default, Persaud will serve six months imprisonment.
Meanwhile, 52-year-old Kayum Mohammed of Lot 12 Enterprise, Leguan, was also charged with the same offence. Mohammed also pleaded guilty and was fined $140,000.
The court heard that on April 28 at CJIA, without obtaining the necessary permit, he attempted to smuggle out of Guyana several species of birds without being the holder of an export/ import licence.
The court heard that he is a Canadian citizen who resides in Toronto. On April 28, Mohammed was an outgoing passenger of a Fly Jamaica flight destined for Canada, when officers found the birds hidden in his suitcase.