Brazilians busted with cocaine on board foreign aircraft remanded

Two Brazilian nationals, who made an emergency landing at Orealla Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) with almost 1,000 pounds of cocaine on board a foreign aircraft, were remanded to prison Thursday on charges of illegal entry and trafficking 450 kilograms of cocaine.

Salim Nobrega De Alimser, 65, and Andre Pereira, 30, appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Thursday before Magistrate Alex Moore; they both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police prosecutor, Orin Joseph, objected to bail, noting that the two accused provided a video to prove that the aircraft belongs to them. On that grounds, the prosecutor noted that the men are a flight risk and may escape if granted bail.

It is alleged that on May 20, 2021, police ranks from the Region Six Police Division located a foreign-registered four-seater Bonanza Beechcraft aircraft that landed on a sand trail at Orealla Village, Corentyne, Berbice River.

The two foreign nationals, who were in the vicinity, were arrested and an initial search of the aircraft revealed almost 1,000 pounds of cocaine.

Other ranks of the Police Force’s SWAT Team, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were mobilised and dispatched to the scene.

A thorough search of the aircraft was conducted and a total of 453 packages containing 535.8 kilograms of suspected cocaine were found, along with two Global Positioning Systems, a radio set, three mobile smartphones, two identification cards, and the aircraft registration documents.

The nationals were remanded to prison until June 22, 2021.

(Information provided by journalist, Royan Abrams)