Five released on bail for allegedly trafficking $12.9M in cocaine, ecstasy pills
Five persons including a Surinamese national who were arrested last Tuesday after $12.9 million in cocaine and ecstasy pills were discovered in a house at Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, were on Friday charged and released on bail.
Those charged are: 62-year-old Lena Narine also known as ‘Aunty Lena’, a businesswoman; James Herbert also known as ‘Uncle James’, 60, a contractor; 71-year-old Kay Jennifer Butcher; 27-year-old Jamal Narine called ‘Tunks’; and a 47-year-old Surinamese man Gregory Faria.
The quintet appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Issacs- Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The first charge stated that on March 29, 2022, at Shantiniketan Street, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, they had 11.4 kilogrammes of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, Leana Narine had 266 grammes of ecstasy pills in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court prosecutor told the court that on the day in question, Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) ranks noticed a gold Toyota Allex motor car HC 577 with a Sheriff taxi logo parked at the address mentioned in the charge.
Another motor car PSS 4046 later pulled up beside that motor car. The court heard that James Hubert came out from motor car PSS 4046 with a black plastic bag and went into the house where Lena Narine was standing at the front door.
CANU ranks then entered the yard and saw Jennifer Butcher, Jamal Narine, and Gregory Faria standing in the house. A search was then conducted in the house and the cocaine and ecstasy pills were discovered.
They were all then arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters. The suspected cocaine carries a street value of approximately $12.5 million while the suspected ecstasy pills carry a street value of approximately $400,000.
Hubert was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, while both Narines and Faria were represented by Attorney-at-Law Everton Singh-Lammy. Butcher was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt.
The Magistrate after listening to the facts released Lena Narine on bail in the sum of $1M. The remaining defendants were each granted $500,000. They were also instructed to make their next court appearance on May 4, 2022.
