Kittitian remanded on drug, gun, ammo charges in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – TWO men, a Kittitian and a Guyanese, were remanded to prison after being alleged of attempting to smuggle a quantity of cocaine, two handguns and ammunition through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Guyana.

According to Kaieteur News, Dexter Lewis of St. Kitts and Adrian Beckles of Guyana appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton, at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, June 2 and pleaded not guilty to charges ranging from drug trafficking to unlawful possession of guns and ammunition.

It is alleged that on Sunday, May 30, 2010 at the CJIA, the duo had 1kg 109 grams of cocaine, one 1.4 Magnum revolver and a pistol, and 15 live 9mm rounds in their possession.

While Beckles had no defence counsel, Lewis was represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, who in a bail application told the court that his client is a St. Kitts national who was visiting his reputed wife, a Guyanese.

The local media outlet stated that Thompson told the court that Lewis was staying at a house at Eccles, East Bank Demerara. The lawyer further explained that none of the items listed in the various charges was ever in his client’s possession and luggage.

The lawyer added that the only reason his client was arrested and charged was because Beckles told the police that Lewis had given him the items. “My worship, the items mentioned in the charge were not found in Lewis’ luggage or on his person,” Thompson argued.

He opined that a caution statement given by Beckles could not be attributed to his client, and asserted that Beckles could not give evidence against his client because it would be inadmissible.

The prosecutor however told the court that the address Lewis gave to the police differed from the one his lawyer gave to court, which suggested he might be a flight risk. She noted that Lewis gave the police an incriminating caution statement in which he admitted that he gave the guns and drugs to Beckles.

Thompson interjected and told the court that the police asked the wrong questions about his client’s address. He further said that the prosecution should not rely on a “caution statement” which was given by Beckles because it simply is not “admissible” in a court.

Magistrate Octave-Hamilton nevertheless remanded the two men to prison. They are expected to appear on Monday, June 7, 2010 at the Providence Magistrate’s Court; a court the prosecutor requested that the cases should be heard.