UNITED States (U.S.) licensed pilot, Jason Gravely, 24, has been charged with drug trafficking here.

He appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton yesterday and was remanded to prison.

Gravely, of Florida, pleaded not guilty to having, on January 11, at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, attempted to export five kilogrammes 62 grammes of cocaine.

Defence Counsel Ronald Burch-Smith said the defendant is a first time visitor to Guyana, having arrived on January 1 and was received by his Guyanese friend.

The lawyer said Gravely’s suitcase was damaged and he requested that the friend buy another for him and the narcotic was expertly fitted in the new one.

However, Police Sergeant Shellon Daniels, prosecuting, had a different narrative.

The Prosecutor said the cocaine was found concealed in the rear compartment of the suitcase and she successfully objected to bail for the American, submitting that no special reason was cited for the grant.

The case was transferred to Providence Court, also on East Bank Demerara, for report and fixture tomorrow.