Former media worker now pleads not guilty in cocaine bust at CJIA

Zanneel Nirmala Williams, 25, who initially pleaded guilty to trafficking over 20 pounds of cocaine in April, has now changed her plea to not guilty.

Williams, and two others, Anil Sookhoo and Shameka Caesar are facing a drug trafficking charge for the drug bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on April 22, 2022.

Her co-accused initially pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on $750,000 bail. With Williams changing her plea to not guilty, she was remanded to prison until June 27, 2022.

During their last court appearance in the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate's Court, Magistrate Sunil Scare had ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Williams along with a probation report.

The evaluation and report for Williams was expected today followed by a sentence. But with the change of plea, disclosure is set for June 27.

Attorney-at-Law Lloyd Conway is representing Williams, Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes is representing Caesar, and Sookhoo is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson.

On April 22, 2022, CANU Officers at the airport intercepted Williams, who was an outgoing passenger destined for the United States, with a quantity of suspected cocaine concealed within her carry-on bag.

She was arrested and escorted to CANU's Headquarters with the suspected narcotics, and a further search of her revealed a quantity of suspected cocaine strapped to her body.

The narcotics tested positive for cocaine, with a total weight of 9.6 kilograms with a street value of over $5 million. Further investigations led to the arrests of Sookhoo and Caesar.