Two arrested after CANU finds cocaine in curry at CJIA

Two men were arrested on Friday by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) after one was found with cocaine in curry.

In a statement on Saturday, CANU said it intercepted a male passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) who was about to travel on Jet Blue Airways Flight B61966 destined for John F. Kennedy International Airport.

A search of the passenger’s suitcase was conducted in his presence, which resulted in the discovery of a white substance suspected to be cocaine concealed in two bowls of curry.

Loaknauth Persaud, 36 years of Parika Backdam, was arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters with the suspected narcotics, which was subsequently tested and confirmed to be cocaine weighing a total of 6.28kilograms with a street value of $6.3 million.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Manzil Ali, called John Ali, 43 years of Section C “D” Field Sophia. Investigations are ongoing.