A 19-YEAR-OLD Canadian resident who was recently busted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri with over nine pounds of cocaine in her suitcase was Friday remanded to prison.Anastacia LaRose, mother of a six-month old baby, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied that she, on January 24, at CJIA had 4.178 kilograms of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

LaRose attorney, Glenn Hanoman explained to the court that the teenager suffers from a mental illness, which affects her physically, allowing her to be easily influenced by others.

Hanoman further explained that this was the young woman’s first time in Guyana to which she was in the county visiting a friend. However, police prosecutor, Deniro Jones strongly objected to bail being granted to LaRose since her lawyer failed to raise any special reason for his client to be granted pre-trial liberty. The Chief Magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded LaRose until February 3, during which time she was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

According to reports, police ranks of the Narcotics Branch stationed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, at 06:30hrs on the day in question arrested the woman, who was an outgoing passenger on a flight to Toronto, Canada. She was arrested after four parcels of cocaine were found in her suitcase.
The substance was weighed and amounted to 4.178 kilograms.