$10M Cocaine Accused in court

A PIPARO housewife and two South American men yesterday appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The illegal drug has an estimated street value of $10 million. Ferney Bohoraquez, 30, of Colombia, Carlos Eduardo Olivares, 38, of Venezuela and 26-year-old Lutchmie Bharath, of Southern Main Road, Piparo Village, appeared before Magistrate Krishendeo Narinesingh at the city’s Four B Court to answer the charges. However, the magistrate was forced to adjourn the matter until today without entertaining bail applications because there was no interpreter present in the court to facilitate the two Spanish- speaking accused.

Bharath, who was represented by attorney Maillard Howell, expressed concern about US$2,000 and the cosmetic contents of the purse she claimed she had in her possession at the time of her arrest. No record of the items was taken by the police, she said. In response, police prosecutor acting Insp Claudette Bynoe indicated that the complainant, Cpl Guada, was not aware of this and would make additional enquiries. As far as Guada knew, Bynoe said, the woman “only had the clothes on her back” when she was arrested. The trio was arrested on Monday morning when members of the OCNU intercepted their car in the Gulf City car park. They will re-appear at the Port-of-Spain Four A Court today.