Two Customs Officers and an Airline Security Agent were on Friday charged with conspiracy to trafficking narcotics. The trio appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and were all refused bail on the conspiracy charges.

Customs Officers Anthony Thomas and Gregory Loo and Airline Security Agent Ravindra Singh all pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

The Prosecution’s case is that the three men conspired on July 27, 2013 to get a bag with over 20 pounds of cocaine loaded onto a New York bound Caribbean Airlines flight. Thomas was represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes, Gregory Loo retained Attorney James Bond as his legal representative and Ravindra Singh was represented by Attorney Abiola Wong-Innis.

Special Prosecutor representing the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit Oswald Massiah told the court that on the 20th July 2013, 19 year old Airline Security agent Ravindra Singh approached a Caribbean Airlines check in agent and offered him US$2500 for a baggage tag. The airline agent according to the prosecutor, handed over the baggage tag to Singh and collected the money offered.

However, a few days later, according to Massiah, the Airline Check in Agent “had a change of heart” and handed back the money to Singh, claiming that he was no longer interested in the deal. The Prosecutor believe that it was the same July 20, 2013 baggage tag that was attached to the drug laden bag on July 27.

The Prosecutor told the court, that on July 27, 2013, Customs Officer Anthony Thomas worked the night shift from the night of the 26th July and it ended on the morning of the July 27. According to the Prosecutor, Thomas “stayed around at the airport even after his duty ended and eventually met up with the other customs officer, Gregory Loo who was turning out to duty the morning”.

Prosecutor Massiah explained to the court that the two conspired with each other to move the black bag with the cocaine around to the area where the bags were being loaded and that came after there were conversations between Thomas and the Airline Security Agent, Ravindra Singh.

The Prosecutor said when the bag was discovered by CANU agents, 1o packets of cocaine were found inside of it. He said the prosecutor will provide detail evidence on the discovery and the links between the men as the case progresses.

Attorney Nigel Hughes representing the interest of Anthony Thomas told the Magistrate that his client was never found in possession of the bag and never had custody of it. He explained to the court that Anthony Thomas has been working for the Guyana Revenue Authority for just  over 11 years and has an “immaculate reputation” with the agency.

Hughes told the Court that CANU and the Prosecution were clearly trying to get the defendants to offer evidence against each other and cannot prove their case. He said the Prosecution has also failed to provide sufficient evidence in the case that would point to a conspiracy.

When the Prosecutor objected to bail for Thomas on the grounds that he could not be found until his image was published in the press, an upset and irritated Nigel Hughes shouted that he was not going to accept that since there were no efforts to find his client in the first place and the young man turned himself into investigators from the time his image was published in the media.

The Prosecutor said the move to publish Thomas’ image came after investigators and his own workplace, the Guyana Revenue Authority could not locate him. Attorney Nigel Hughes said he would like to see all the evidence that points to conspiracy in the matter.

Attorney Abiola Wong Innish who is representing Security Agent, Ravindra Singh said the only reason her client has been charged in the matter is because he did not cooperate with the investigators. She said it was strange that the Prosecution would come to the court and tell the story of an airline agent that sold a baggage tag and then had a change of heart, and not charge that agent in connection with the case.

Wong-Innis said the country has a constitution and persons should not be penalized for “not cooperating” with law enforcement.

James Bond who is representing the third accused in the matter Gregory Loo told the court that like the other Customs Officer, the Prosecution has failed to produce any evidence directly linking his client to any conspiracy or the cocaine bag.

After listening to all of the arguments, the Magistrate refused bail to all three o the accused noting the seriousness of the charge and she transferred the case to the Providence Magistrates Court where the men will make their 2nd appearance on Monday, August 5th, 2013.

Five persons were initially arrested by the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit but after CANU sought the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions, charges were only made out against three of those arrested. The other two have been released form custody. CANU was pushing for drug trafficking charges according to well placed sources, but the Director of Public Prosecutions advised that they should instead charge the men with conspiracy to trafficking narcotics.

Filed 2nd August, 2013

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