Three charged with having high powered guns, ammo, drugs get bail

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Sascha Wilson

Bail in the total sum of $3.5 million has been granted to a man and two women allegedly held in Marabella with three firearms, including two high powered rifles, and a large quantity of drugs and ammunition.

Alexandre Louison, 30, Nikita Prince, 28, accountant clerk and Zarina Yusuf, 57, an accountant at the Ministry of National Security, appeared before Senior Magistrate Jo-Anne Connor via video link but they were not called upon to plead.

The three of them are charged jointly with possession of prohibited weapons for the purpose of trafficking and possession of ammunition. Louison, however, was also slapped with two other charges, possession of cocaine and marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

They were arrested after police raided their home at Gopaul Street, Marabella last Thursday and allegedly found an AK-47 assault rifle with a magazine and an AR 15 with two magazines, as well as a Glock 22 with an extended magazine and two single magazines.

It is alleged that 177 rounds of five different types of ammunition, including 40 mm, 5.56 mm, 45 mm, 7.62, and 12 gauge cartridges were also discovered.

It is further alleged that during the search the officers, including Sgt Ifill and Cpl Burke and others from Marabella CID and Southern Division Task Force, found 1.88 kilogrammes of cocaine and 12.8 kilogrammes of marijuana.

The estimated street value of the marijuana was $275,000 while the cocaine was valued at $250,000. They were charged by PC Matloo of the Marabella Police Station. From the San Fernando Police Station, court prosecutor Sgt Harold Ishmael objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offences, two of the fire arms were prohibited weapons, the prevalence of the offences and the quantity of ammunition and narcotics.

However, he confirmed that neither the women nor the man had criminal records. They were not represented by an attorney.

Connor granted them bail, but on the condition that they reported twice a week at the Marabella Police Station.

The women were each granted $1 million bail with magistracy registrar approval while Louison was granted $1.5 million.

No cash bail was granted. The matter was adjourned to June 12.