…two co-accused released on $750,000 bail each

FORMER media worker Zaneel Williams, who was recently nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) with 21 pounds of cocaine, on Monday pleaded guilty to the drug trafficking charge, while her two co-accused were each released on $750,000 bail.

Williams, 25, of Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown; ex-officer of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) Anil Sookhoo, 33, of Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke-Linden Highway; and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officer Shameka Caesar, 27, of D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown were hauled before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond-Grove Magistrates’ Court.

The trio was jointly charged for trafficking a total of 9.628 kilograms of cocaine on April 22, 2022 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Williams pleaded guilty, while Sookhoo and Caesar denied the allegation.

Williams was represented by Attorney-at-Law Mark Conway, while Sookhoo and Caesar were represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Adrian Thompson respectively.

Magistrate Scarce ordered that a probation report and psychiatric evaluation be done on Williams before passing sentence on her; she was remanded to prison, while Sookhoo and Caesar were released on $750,000 bail each.

The matter was adjourned until May 30, 2022.

According to a CANU release, Williams was an outgoing passenger destined for the United States, when she was intercepted at the CJIA with 7.962 kg of cocaine concealed within fake walls of her carry-on bag.

Williams was immediately arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters, where an additional 1.666 kg of cocaine was found strapped to her body.

In total, the narcotics had a street value of over G$5M.

Further investigations led to the arrests of Sookhoo and Caesar.