Undercover operation leads to arrests in cocaine cases

After four men returned to Summary Court on Thursday accused of supplying cocaine at or in the vicinity of bars, Defence Attorney John Furniss confirmed the arrests resulted from a police operation similar to one in 2004 involving “a pretty girl”.  

Mr. Furniss said the recent operation continued over a period of time [January through May]. One of the men, Aaron James Bush, apparently became involved with an intermediary because he was interested in an undercover officer who was a pretty girl, the attorney said.  

Mr. Bush, 31, faces four charges of supplying cocaine ranging from 0.332 gram to 1.31 gram on 2 March in the car park of Coconut Joe’s on West Bay Road; on 12 March in the vicinity of Paradise Bar and Restaurant; on 19 March in the vicinity of Hammerheads Bar and Restaurant; and on 16 April in the vicinity of Paradise. 

Mr. Furniss said he would be applying for legal aid. He did not make a bail application and the matter was set for mention again on 7 June. 

Another client, Tel Bruce Andre Powdar, denied all 10 charges against him, Mr. Furniss said. Mr. Powdar entered pleas of not guilty as Chief Magistrate Margaret Ramsay-Hale read the charges to him, including the names of establishments at or in the vicinity of which the alleged drug supply occurred. The magistrate noted all were small portions [cocaine ranging from 0.168 to 0.829 gram; and ecstasy from 0.586 to 1.48 gram]. 

The cocaine supply allegedly took place 11 March and 8 April in the vicinity of Paradise; and 9 and 15 April in the vicinity of Hammerheads. A charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine related to an incident at Rackam’s Bar on 22 January. 

The five charges of supplying ecstasy, also referred to as MDMA, relate to 15 April at Hammerheads; 9 April in the vicinity of Hammerheads; 8 April at Paradise Bar; 11 March in the vicinity of Paradise Bar; and 3 February in the vicinity of Rackam’s. 

Mr. Furniss applied for bail, urging the court to accept that the defendant was not a flight risk on the basis of the not guilty pleas, his job and his relationship with a local woman with whom he has a child.  

Crown Counsel Tricia Hutchinson said the court would not be surprised to hear that she opposed bail. She said the charges involved significant drugs over a significant period of time. Asked what was the strength of the evidence, Ms Hutchinson replied that the supply was to an undercover officer. 

The magistrate denied bail but set an early trial date. Mr. Powdar, 28, will be brought back to court on 30 June.  

Also charged as a result of the police operation was Garfield Hugh Silburn, 43. He is accused of supplying cocaine at Hammerheads on 17 January; in the vicinity of Hammerheads on 2 March; at The Wharf Restaurant and Bar, 10 March; in the vicinity of Hammerheads on 12 May; and in the vicinity of The Wharf on 13 May. 

Mr. Furniss said Mr. Silburn denied the charges.  

Mr. Silburn was remanded in custody until 7 June. 

Attorney Lloyd Samson was successful in his bail application on behalf of Ganish Dudnath, 25. He faces one charge of supplying cocaine and Mr. Samson said it was the result of Mr. Dudnath acting as a conduit for a co-worker: a quantity had been passed to him to pass on to the buyer. The incident allegedly took place at Rackam’s Bar on 22 January. 

The attorney asked for a date on which the defendant would enter his plea and that was set for 30 June. 

Mr. Dudnath was granted bail, with conditions of curfew, electronic tag monitoring, surety, surrender of passport. The magistrate accepted his employer as surety in the sum of $2,500 and a cash bond in the same amount. 

Ganja cases 

Also Thursday, two men were brought to court on charges of supplying ganja in the vicinity of the Casanova Restaurant car park on 18 and 19 January. There was no direct statement by anyone to suggest that the arrests of Mohammed Karim Munruddin, 24, and Cameron Khristopher Castillo, 29, were part of the police operation. 

However, the magistrate read from a summary of facts that indicated the two men together were operating out of a car. Mr. Castillo was reported as telling someone “If you need anything I can get it for you” and “You should tell your friends to come to us.” Mr. Munruddin allegedly said, “We can do whatever size you want.” 

The magistrate said Cayman did not want to become known as a destination for people who wanted to use ganja. 

The quantities involved in these charges were 5.32 grams and 5.55 grams. 

Mr. Munruddin faces a separate charge of possession of ganja at his Bodden Town residence. Ms Hutchinson said on 1 June police recovered ganja in a glass jar, ganja seeds in a plastic cup, and weighing scales from his home. She said this suggested dealing, not just being a courier. 

The magistrate remanded both men in custody until 7 June. 

The earlier police operation referred to by Mr. Furniss took place April through July 2004, involved two female undercover officers and led to the arrests of at least five men. One left the Island before being brought to court and four elected trial in Grand Court. Their attorneys presented an argument of entrapment – that the men had been induced to commit an offence they otherwise would not have committed. 

Justice Alexander Henderson ruled that while the female officers provided some motivation, he was satisfied the men would have sold cocaine to any other similarly clad attractive women who engaged them in conversation.