CASE DISMISSED: CANU withdraws conspiracy charges against Tyrone Hamilton

The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) on Wednesday withdrew the conspiracy to traffic cocaine charge against former national cyclist Tyrone Hamilton.

The businessman, who was on remand, made his appearance at the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court where Magistrate Clive Nurse dismissed the charge after CANU’s attorney submitted a letter requesting the withdrawal of charges.

Hamilton turned himself over to the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) on May 4, after a wanted bulletin was issued for him in relation to a major drug bust at the CJIA on February 22.

The cocaine, weighing 71.2kg and valued at $64 million, was found in two suitcases intended for a British Airways flight.

Meanwhile, another man, Gavin McKie, is still wanted for questioning regarding the bust. McKie’s wife, Jessica McKie, was also arrested but later released.

The wanted bulletins were issued after two men, Travis Sealey, 26, a shift leader attached to the New Timehri Handling Service and Koby Bakker, 20, a ground security coordinator attached to Secure Innovations and Concept, were caught collecting four duffle bags over the airport’s fence. CANU officers observed the exchange and subsequently found 64 brick-like parcels of cocaine in the bags.

CANU said that if the cocaine had arrived at its intended destination in the United Kingdom, the cocaine would have been worth an estimated street value of over £3,000,000 which is equivalent to approximately GY$679 million.