TWO men were, on Tuesday, hauled before separate courts for attempting to smuggle $6.3 million worth of cocaine concealed in two bowls of curry out of Guyana, through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Loaknauth Persaud, 36, of Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo was arraigned before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court.

Persaud pleaded guilty to trafficking 6.28 kilograms of cocaine on October 7, at CJIA. He was remanded to prison until October 31 for sentencing.

However, his co-accused, Manzil Ali, 43, of Section C “D” Field Sophia appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Ali pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison until November 3.

According to a release from CANU, Persaud was scheduled to fly on Jet Blue Airways Flight B61966 to the John.F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport.

He was intercepted by officers who searched his suitcase and found a white substance suspected to be cocaine.

Persaud was escorted to CANU Headquarters, where the substance was tested and confirmed to be cocaine weighing 6.28 kilograms (approximately 13.8 pounds), with a street value of US$310,000 (approximately G$6.3 million).

Further investigations led to the arrest of Ali.