Duo in West Ruimveldt $1.2M cocaine bust get bail

Two men, who were remanded to prison last month after being busted with several cocaine pellets during an operation at Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, were today released on $300,000 bail each.

On March 4, 49-year-old Ron Reid, and 45-year-old Nigel Dundas, were hauled before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and were charged with having 1.084 kilogrammes of cocaine in their possession for trafficking.

The duo had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison until April 8.

However, when the matter was called today, Magistrate Daly released the duo on $300,000 bail with the condition that they lodge their passport and report to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit’s (CANU’s) Headquarters every Monday at 9:00 am until the hearing and determination of the matter.

Both men are expected to make another court appearance on May 20, 2022. Attorney-at-law Bernard Da Silva represented Reid, while Everton Singh-Lammy represented Dundas.

This publication had reported that during the first court hearing, the attorneys had argued that their clients were forced into the premises.

They further pointed out that their clients do not own or live at the house while noting that several persons occupy the house.

Prosecutor Harris, who represented CANU, said that the defendants were the only persons at the house during the bust.

On March 2, 2022, the duo was arrested at a West Ruimveldt house by ranks from CANU and was found wrapping pellets of suspected cocaine.

The more than 100 pellets amounted to 1.084 kg in total, with a street value of approximately $1.2 million.

CANU, in a statement, said that Reid is no stranger to the agency. In fact, on March 2, 2015, Reid, along with his common-law wife, was arrested with 70 grams of cocaine for trafficking.

In 2017, CANU issued a wanted bulletin for Reid after his associate, Julius Watkins, was intercepted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, with 114 cocaine pellets that he ingested.

Watkins subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison. The following day, Ron Reid turned himself over to CANU.