-4 years jail, $21M fine
National Under-19 cricketer, Joshua Persaud, 17, and his 51-year-old grandmother, Naomi Persaud, were jointly charged on Wednesday with drug trafficking in relation to the discovery of over 20 pounds of cocaine in a gas cylinder at the family’s Campbellville house.
However, the cricketer’s grandmother pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined $21M by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
The charge against the teen was withdrawn since his grandmother pleaded guilty; the woman reportedly told the court that her grandson had no knowledge of the cocaine being in the house. The matter was heard “in camera” despite the teen being the legal age for arraignment in open court. The Persauds were represented by attorney, Glenn Hanoman.
Particulars of the charge alleged that on August 06, 2017 at the Delph Avenue, Campbellville, the duo had over 20 pounds of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking. According to reports, on the day in question, ranks from Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit swooped down at location, where Persaud and his 17-year-old girlfriend were staying.
The home was searched which resulted in the seizure of 9 rectangular shape objects weighing over 9 kilograms of cocaine found in a cooking gas cylinder which had a false bottom.
