Laquis not linked to UK drug arrest

A SAN FERNANDO businessman declared yesterday he was not the Peter Laquis arrested in England last week for alleged possession of cocaine. Trinidadians Peter Laquis and Raymond Habib were held at Heathrow Airport, London, after a quantity of cocaine was allegedly found in their suitcases which were discovered by policemen. They were taken before the Uxbridge Magistrates Court and were denied bail.

Laquis, of Bevan Street, San Fernando, said he was being mistaken for the person involved in that drug allegation and wanted to clear his name. “I am the exact opposite to that allegation. “For the last six years I have counselled people on substance abuse in the United States, and I have been working with a rehabilitation centre in Port-of-Spain for the last nine months. I don’t drink alcohol. I would never be engaged in that kind of activity.” He admitted, however, that he is a distant relative of the Peter Laquis who was arrested in London. Laquis said since the incident his house has been flooded with telephone calls and people have been approaching his family and expressing their concern over the matter. “Just this weekend someone told me, ‘You jump bail quick.’ I am tired of constantly explaining that I was not the one involved with the case.” The San Fernando businessman said he is losing sales at his car dealership because people suspect he might be involved in illegal activity. “I just want to clear my name,” he said.