Man admits to trafficking cocaine in curry; co-accused pleads not guilty

Loaknauth Persaud on Tuesday pleaded guilty to trafficking $6.3M worth of cocaine in two bowls of curry through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), while his co-accused, Manzil Ali, denied the charge.

Persaud, 36, of Parika backdam, East Bank Essequibo and Ali, 43, of Section C “D” Field Sophia were separately charged with trafficking narcotics.

Persaud was arraigned before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to trafficking 6.28 kilograms of cocaine on October 7, at CJIA.

Magistrate Latchman deferred Persaud’s sentencing until October 31.

Meanwhile, Ali was hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the same charge.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until November 3, for reports.

According to reports, on October 7, ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) intercepted Persaud, who was an outgoing male passenger at CJIA.

He was destined for the John F. Kennedy International airport in New York on a JetBlue Airways flight B61966.

Persaud was searched and 13.8lbs of cocaine with a street value of $6.3 million (US$31,000) was found in two bowls of curry that were packed inside his suitcase.

According to CANU, further investigations led to the arrest of Ali.