Chinese nationals in court for $.5M whiskey haul

The appearance of accused Zhenwei Guo, 46, his wife Yuyan Qiu, 44, and Guanbin Huang, 30, and 25-year-old Shanlong Jiang caused a stir on St Vincent Street when Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor convened the Fifth Court, to view the exhibits.

There, she viewed the 136 cases of Black and White scotch whiskey as well as the 339 cases of Johnny Walker Black Label, which were placed on top of pallets on a Customs and Excise Division truck.

Curious onlookers who also stopped to view the exhibits were told to “keep walking” by armed officers standing guard.

The accused were held by Customs and Excise Preventative Branch officers at the home of Guo and Qiu at Allan Street in Diego Martin, on December 19, 2008.

There, the officers allegedly found the items stored below the house..

The charge, laid pursuant to section 213 (C) of the Customs Act, Chapter 78:01, alleges that the accused were in possession of goods which did not go through the necessary clearance under the Customs and Duties Division.

Ag Customs Officer II Darren Bhola charged the accused.

The accused were represented by attorney Patrick Godson-Phillips who suggested that the exhibits be sent for testing to determine that they were in fact alcohol.

The Magistrate obliged, and ordered that a bottle of Black and White and Johnnie Walker both be sent for testing at the Government Chemist.

Baboolal-Gafoor had earlier asked the lawyer if he wanted to accept that the items were in fact alcohol and skip the testing.

Senior State counsel Chaitram Bhola is prosecuting for the Customs and Excise Division. The accused were each released on $75,000 bail granted one week before.

They were ordered to return to court on June 18.

The police have since taken up the investigation.