Businessman charged with Mon Repos cocaine, ganja bust

A 50-year-old furniture maker was today charged in relation to the massive drug bust on a boat at a fishing complex located in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Azim Baksh, known as “Bato”, of Phase One Good Hope, (ECD) appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded not guilty to trafficking 91.132kg of cocaine and 56.008kg of cannabis on July 14.

He was represented by Attorney-at-law Bernard DaSantos, who told the court that the drug was not found in the possession of his client neither was his client on the boat when the illegal substances were discovered.

According to the lawyer, his client was intercepted by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) while driving his motor car at Mon Repos Access Road.

The court heard that CANU ranks also searched Baksh’s home and arrested his wife, but she was later released.

CANU Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford explained that CANU ranks were on a surveillance exercise and observed Baksh along with another occupant on the boat with the drugs.

He then left the boat and was trailed by a CANU officer. Magistrate George remanded Baksh to prison until August 10.

According to reports, the bust was made when ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) conducted an operation early Saturday morning at several locations used for the docking of fishing vessels along the East Coast Sea Wall.

CANU had issued a wanted bulletin for the arrest of the alleged boat captain, Farok Baksh called “Dive and Shoot” of Pump Road, Mon Repos.

Roughly 201 pounds (91.132kg) of cocaine and 123.5 pounds (56.008kg) of cannabis were found on a suspected fishing vessel.

The vessel, which had two suspects, was interdicted at the Mon Repos Channel, CANU said.