Duo remanded for cocaine found in mats at Ogle airport

Two women, who were busted with 5.274 kilograms of cocaine concealed in mats at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), were today remanded to prison on a drug-trafficking charge.

32-year-old Malika Scott, of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge.

The charge stated that on March 5, 2022, at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, she had 5.274 kilograms of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Scott, whom Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd is representing, was remanded to prison until April 5, 2022, when she will make another court appearance.

On the other hand, 22-year-old Akata Makeba Garnett of ‘C’ Field Sophia Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown, who was arrested along with Scott, appeared before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court.

She also pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison until March 31.

Reports are that on Saturday last, ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) intercepted Garnett at the airport, who was an outgoing passenger destined for Barbados.

A search was conducted, and five mats laced with cocaine were found in her luggage. As such, she was arrested and escorted to CANU's Headquarters, where a further investigation led to the arrest of Scott.