Granny admits to cocaine stashed in gas cylinder

TIMES INT'L

…jailed, fined G$21M

Naiomi Persaud, the 51-year-old woman who admitted ownership of some 20 pounds of cocaine discovered by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks stashed in a cooking gas cylinder in her home, was on Wednesday jailed when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The cocaine blocks concealed in the gas cylinder
The well wrapped rectangular blocks of cocaine found at the Delph Avenue home

The woman pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to her by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
That charge alleged that on August 7, 2017, she was found to be in possession of the cocaine at her Campbellville, Georgetown house. CANU ranks had swooped down on the house and conducted a search of the premises, unearthing nine well wrapped rectangular packages hidden in a cooking gas cylinder that had a false bottom.
Persaud was also fined G$21 million which is the calculated street value of the drugs.
Originally, the woman’s 17-year-old grandson who is an Under-19 Guyanese cricketer and his girlfriend were arrested for the crime as they were present when the drugs were unearthed.
However, the young woman was questioned and released following the disclosure by Persaud that she was the owner of the prohibited substance.
Her grandson had the charges against him dropped following the woman’s guilty plea in court on Wednesday.
A wanted bulletin was issued for the owner of the house, Andre Gomes, called “Zipper” in which the drugs were reportedly discovered.
The man is said to have had previous brushes with the law and it is alleged that Persaud and Gomes share a relationship.
The US Embassy is also said to have now revoked the visitor’s visa of Persaud.
On the day of the discovery, the cocaine was unearthed concealed in nine packages which were hidden in the gas cylinder which had a false bottom.

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