Airline guard, caterer arrested in another cocaine bust at CJIA

One security official attached to the Roraima Airways, along with a representative of a catering service, was on Monday morning taken into custody following another cocaine bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

Five kilograms of cocaine was discovered neatly sewn into airline blankets around 06:50h. The blankets were intended for a Delta flight destined for the United States of America.
According to information received, the cocaine was in the possession of the security official who was attempting to pass through a security checkpoint. An airport official disclosed that the mule hid the cocaine among the snacks that were supposed to be taken onto the aircraft when he was stopped by an airport security.
The airport security personnel reportedly asked the man why he wanted access to the restricted area, but he could not give a valid reason, hence a search was conducted, resulting in the discovery of the illicit substance.
Upon the discovery of the cocaine, the Roraima guard attempted to bribe the airport security personnel, but he escorted the man and catering staffer to the dark room where they were held. During his detention, the guard attempted to escape, but was held down by two security ranks. The police arrived and took the guard into custody.
This discovery comes less than two weeks after almost two kilograms of the illicit substance were found within the CJIA aerodrome. The two packets of cocaine were discovered between the Texaco fuel terminal and the New Timehri Handling Service building after airport authorities received a telephone call informing them that someone had thrown a bag over the perimeter fence.
Despite a quick response by the police and other drug enforcement units, no one was seen in proximity to where the bag was found. As a result, the airport officials ordered that the entire area become a prohibited zone until the police complete their investigations. No one was arrested nor suspected of committing the act.
On August 3, 25 kilograms of cocaine was unearthed by members of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Police Narcotics Branch (PNB) after checks of the baggage area.
The illicit substance was intended for a BW 526 flight destined for the John F Kennedy International Airport, U. S.
According to information received, the 50 pounds of cocaine was on a cart used to transport luggage. The drug was divided into 25 blocks and concealed in a bag. It was reported that members of the drug enforcement units were conducting routine checks when the bag was noticed on the cart. A number of airport cargo handlers and other airport staff were questioned following the discovery.
Following the cocaine bust on August 3, six airport staffers were stripped of their badges. Four of them were from the New Timehri Handling Service, while the other two were from a contracted security firm.