Police dog handler and woman remanded for Ogle cocaine bust

24-year-old Police Detective Ian Johnson, who is attached to the narcotics unit of the Guyana Police Force as a dog handler, was on Wednesday refused bail and remanded to prison, along with 19-year-old Kingston resident, Anastacia Crawford.

The two appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates Court jointly charged for drug trafficking. The charges filed against the two stem from last Wednesday’s cocaine and marijuana bust at the Ogle International Airport. The young woman was a passenger getting ready to board a LIAT flight to Barbados when over five pounds of cocaine and over 10 pounds of marijuana were found in her luggage.

Johnson was reportedly the handler in charge of the drug sniffer dog at the airport at the time and investigators believe he intentionally attempted to allow the bags to pass through security without being checked by the drug sniffing dog that was in his care.

The Customs Anti Narcotics investigators believe Johnson met and befriended the 19-year old Anastacia Crawford and together the two made plans along with other persons to ferry the cocaine through the Ogle International Airport.

Although, Johnson was not found in possession with the cocaine, the investigators still pushed for the drug trafficking charge and the Prosecutor explained to the courthouse that one does not have to be in the possession of narcotics to be charged with the offence of drug trafficking.

After listening to the evidence presented in the case, Magistrate Suelle Lovelle refused bail for the pair. The Prosecutor pointed out to the court that other persons are being sought in connection with the same case and more charges could be filed once those persons are located and arrested.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions has been asked to offer advice in another drug trafficking case involving a dog handler. Drug Enforcement officers intend to charge another police dog handler who was based at the Cheddi Jagan Airport when just over 5 pounds of cocaine was found stashed in the bottom of the aircraft. Two airport baggage handlers have already been charged in the case.