Body and more coke found in Manzanilla

A BODY believed to be that of a Venezuelan or Colombian man was fished out of the Ortoire River near Manzanilla, and more cocaine suspected to be remnants of a large consignment was discovered yesterday between Manzanilla and Mayaro. Senior police officers told Newsday yesterday they believe there is a link between the discovery of the body and the large cocaine haul, which was found between Sunday morning and late yesterday evening. Senior officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotic Unit (OCNU) yesterday estimated the two-day drug haul to be in the vicinity of $10 million. OCNU officers have also put the amount of cocaine seized to over 200 kilogrammes.  They said one kilogramme of cocaine is sold for approximately $400,000. Up to late evening, the man believed to be about 50, remained unidentified, and police also believe there is connection between the drug seizure and a “community leader” who abandoned a vehicle in the Manzanilla area on Sunday after the initial bags of cocaine was seized.

Reports are that around 9.45am three fishermen including Nigel Ramnanan and two others identified only as “Darmon” and “Blowie” went to the Ortoire Basin in the vicinity of the Manzanilla Beach, to raise fish pots in the sea. The three fishermen observed a body floating and police said Ramnanan used his cellphone to contact the Emergency-999, after which he and his two companions came back to shore on board their boat, “Touchdown”. A party of police officers headed by Sr Supt Randolph Protain and including ASP Maraj, Sgt Rampersad and other officers of the Eastern Division visited the scene. Heavily-armed OCNU officers as well as members of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) also visited the scene. The national helicopter surveyed the area since there were reports that several bodies were seen floating in the sea off Manzanilla/Mayaro. However, only one body was found. With the assistance of residents, the officers then used the boat and a net to fish out the man’s body, which was clad in blue track pants, grey jersey and red underwear.  There also was a tattoo on his right bicep, and a necklace with two beads around his neck. His face, fingers and toes were partially decomposed.  There were no outward visible signs of violence on the body and District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Clare estimated that the man could have been dead about five days.  In an Allen’s Funeral Home van, the man’s body was first taken to the Mayaro Police Station then to the Forensic Science Centre. At the scene yesterday, Bhim Ramnanan, brother of Nigel Ramnanan, and owner of the boat, Touchdown, said he is of the opinion that the cocaine seizure and the discovery of the man’s body were connected. “This was expected.  Once you see drugs, you will see a body after.  Something went really wrong at sea,” Bhim Ramnanan, a registered fisherman, said. 

He added that the Manzanilla/Mayaro coastline is not carefully guarded and therefore is exposed to several illegal activities.  “It (coastline) is never checked by the authorities. They need to clamp down on the area,” Bhim said, pointing out that in his 13 years fishing in the area, he has never been checked, as a registered fisherman. Before the man’s body was discovered yesterday, three packets of cocaine was found in the Gran Lagoon area around 9am, while at 3.30pm another crocus bag containing about 15 packets of cocaine was found in the Cocal area. On Sunday, officers of the Eastern Division had four separate finds along the Manzanilla Beach.  Those seizures comprised five bags amounting to over 50 packets.  Officers of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) also seized one bag of cocaine between Manzanilla and Mayaro.  It was later handed over to the OCNU department. After Sunday’s cocaine seizure, roadblocks were set up in the area.  Police sources said a vehicle with a community leader ran through the roadblock on the Manzanilla Road, and later abandoned the vehicle at a dirt road in Caigual.  Sgt Rampersad of the Mayaro Police Station is continuing investigations.