Colombian jailed, fined $82.9M for trafficking 55kg of cocaine; Venezuelan co-accused remanded

A Colombian national was on Tuesday slapped with a 4-year sentence along with an $82.9 million fine after pleading guilty to narcotics trafficking. His accomplice, a Venezuelan national who pleaded not guilty, was remanded to prison awaiting trial.

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) stated that Gerardo Martinez, a Venezuelan, and Revelino Achicue Ascue, a Colombian, were arrested on Friday during an operation along the Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) after 50 brick-like parcels of cocaine, weighing 55.296 kilograms, were found in their intercepted motorcar.

They were arrested, charged, and subsequently appeared before Magistrate Bess at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court, where they were jointly charged for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Ascue, who pleaded guilty, was jailed and fined, while Martinez was remanded to prison.

Meanwhile, CANU stated that several other foreign and Guyanese nationals remain in custody pending further investigation.