THREE men, who had spent almost a month on remand for trafficking cocaine, were Friday, August 16, 2019, released on $500,000 bail each, by Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

On July 26, 2019, Deopaul Gordeen, a 48-year-old fisherman of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Mohammed Insham, a 47-year-old electrician of Zeelugt North, East Bank Essequibo; and Amid Kumar, a 41-year-old machine operator of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, made their first court appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that, on July 23, 2019, at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), the trio had 2.264 kilogrammes (equivalent to 4.991 pounds) of cocaine in their possession, for the purpose of trafficking.

The men pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison. The matter was transferred to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
On Friday, when the matter was called, the men’s attorney, Siand Dhurjon made an application for bail, which was granted by the Magistrate.

The Magistrate adjourned the matter until November 15, 2019, for the commencement of trial.
According to reports, on July 23, 2019, the three men were nabbed by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks, who were conducting a surveillance exercise in Parika.
The ranks allegedly observed Gordeen handing over a bulky bag to Insham, who then handed same over to Kumar. Kumar then placed it into a motor car and the defendants left the location.

The ranks intercepted the car which was driven by Insham. The motor car was searched and two brick-like objects, suspected to be cocaine, were found in a lunch bag.