BHANMATTIE Lalita Persaud, of Lot 460 Grass Field, Lusignaan, East Coast of Demerara, was refused bail Monday on a drug trafficking chare.

Before Chief Magistrate, Priya-Sewnarine- Beharry, the 37-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to the offence, details of which said, on Saturday, November 30, at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, she had possession of 12.330 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah told the court the defendant has been engaged in shipping vegetables and fruits to Canada for sometime, using a particular licensed exporter.
The arrangements ceased and the shipper was off business for sometime because of financial problems and he informed her of his difficulties and she assisted him to get on his feet again.
As a result, the business recommenced and during the month of November, Persaud made arrangements with the shipper to export vegetables to Canada and asked him to uplift some, which included squash at Bourda market.
Meanwhile, she acquired vegetables from East Coast Demerara and Berbice, including boulanger (egg plant) and the shipper took what he had and they put together everything to ship to Canada.
The prosecutor said the CANU officer decided to do a 100 percent check on the boxes after Persaud had already left the airport, having paid the shipment fees.
He said when the officer held the first boulanger the top fell off and further observation revealed that the illegal substance was used to replace the pulp of the vegetables.
The officer told the shipper of his suspicions and the vegetables were taken to CANU Headquarters for further investigations to be conducted.
CANU officers headed to the defendant’s home but could not find her. Five days later, after a wanted bulletin was issued, she was taken in to the authorities.
Attorney-at-law, Mr. Rexford Jackson, for Persaud, requested an early date for trial stating that his is aware of the court’s position on special reason.
The case was put off to December 11, 2013.