AN American citizen was busted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) last Friday while he was an outgoing passenger on a flight to the U.S. with a quantity of cocaine concealed in baking and custard powders.Police reported that the find was made at about 16:05 hours last Friday when ranks of the Police Narcotics Unit conducted a search on the baggage of a male American citizen who was an outgoing passenger on a flight to the USA, during which a total of 18 kilograms 295 grams of cocaine was found concealed among baking powder and custard powder.
He has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

GANJA BUST

In a separate incident another man is in police custody following another cocaine bust at Ogle International Airport last Thursday.

Police reported that at about 09:35 hours last Friday, ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch at the  Ogle Airport conducted a search on the baggage of a man travelling on a flight to Kaikan, and 794 grams of marijuana was found concealed in a mattress.

DOG HANDLER ON DRUGS CHARGE

And on May 28, 2014, a 24-year-old Police Detective appeared before the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court charged in connection with the drug bust at the Ogle International Airport on May 21 last.
Ian Johnson, a dog handler attached to the Canine Unit of the Police Narcotics Branch, is charged jointly with 19-year-old Anastasia Crawford.

Crawford was initially charged for attempting to smuggle 5.574 kilograms of marijuana and 2.286 kg of cocaine via the Ogle International Airport last week. However, the initial charge was withdrawn and a joint charge has been instituted instead.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell.

The allegation is that Johnson, a dog handler, who was on duty at the time that the 19-year-old was getting ready to board a LIAT flight to Barbados, intentionally allowed the outgoing passenger’s luggage to pass security verification points without being checked by the drug sniffing dog that was in his charge.
Details of the case are that investigations conducted by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) further revealed that Johnson met and befriended the 19-year-old Anastasia Crawford. Together, along with other persons, they planned to transport the drugs through the Ogle International Airport.