TWO women recently busted with cocaine at CJIA were yesterday refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on separate drug trafficking charges.Vanessa Harper, 30, of Lot 70 Ramos Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge alleging that on May 15, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara, she had in her possession 5.756 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah said Harper had arranged to take the prohibited substance to the Unites States after she had been promised US$5,000. The court heard that the mother of two had already been given Gy$100,000 and US$300 in advance to assist with accommodation.
Massiah contends that, on the day in question, Harper was on her way to the US by way of CJIA when she had in her possession two suitcases. Procedural checks were made by CANU officers at the airport, and the alleged drugs were found concealed in the cover of both suitcases. Harper was subsequently told of the offence, and was arrested and charged.

Harper was represented by attorney-at-law Mr. Dexter Todd.

And Nanda Ali, 39, of Lot 12 Courbane Park, Annandale, East Coast Demerara, also pleaded not guilty to a charge alleging that on May 15 at CJIA, she had in her possession 6.182 Kg of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The CANU Prosecutor informed the court that Ali had also arranged with persons unknown to take the illegal substance to the US. She, too, had been promised US$5,000 for her participation.

The prosecutor said that, whilst at the airport, a search was conducted on Ali’s possession and the illegal substance was unearthed from the cover at the bottom of each suitcase.

Attorney-at-law Mr Peter Hugh, representing Ali, told the court that his client is the proprietrix of a beer garden and a mother of two with no prior convictions. In an application for bail, he told the court that Ali would not have an early trial after the matter has been transferred to the Providence Court, since that magistrate is on leave. He further added that there is a backlog of cases at that court.

Both women were remanded to prison after answering to their separate charges, and their matters were transferred to the Providence Court for May 25.

By Geeta Rampersaud