PRINCIPAL Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Providence Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, August 15, 2019, remanded a 66-year-old man to prison for cocaine trafficking.

Roderick Andrew Chase pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that, on August 13, 2019, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, he had 290 grams of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Chase was represented by attorney-at-law George Thomas who made an application for bail. The matter was prosecuted by Police Corporal Shawn Gonsalves.

According to the facts presented, on August 13, 2019, Chase was an outgoing passenger on a flight for JFK airport, New York and was bound for Brooklyn.

However, the elderly man checked in at CJIA and went through the scanner. Ranks attached to the Police Narcotics Branch stationed at the airport observed two strange objects on the scanner monitor, which showed that the defendant had two parcels ‘stashed’ in his shoes.
Chase was contacted by the ranks and his shoes were searched. The two parcels, which were wrapped in black tape, were tested positive for cocaine and the elderly man was arrested.

The prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendant citing the seriousness of the charge.
The Magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Chase to prison until August 30, 2019.