The mayor of the Guyanese town of Apatou, Paul Dolianki, found Saturday in possession of drugs in his luggage at Orly airport (Val-de-Marne), was indicted Tuesday for customs infringement and left free under judicial review, according to corroborating sources. He is not, however, indicted for drug trafficking.
Initially suspected of drug trafficking, the Créteil prosecutor's office requested that he be placed in pre-trial detention. But he is ultimately prosecuted for importing contraband, possession and transport of goods dangerous to public health, an offense which could make him incur up to 10 years of imprisonment, the prosecution told AFP.
2.5 kg of cocaine in the double bottom of one of his luggage
The elected 55-year-old was arrested at the airport with 2.5 kg of cocaine in the double bottom of one of his luggage and immediately taken into police custody. Reached by AFP on the phone out of court, he said he was “innocent” and believed he had been “trapped”, just like the people who had given him the baggage and whom he “knew very well”. "It was very difficult, these three days locked in a cell" he indicated, specifying that in the future, he would be "more careful" when he would be of service.
According to his lawyer Avi Bitton, a young man, likely to be at the origin of this case but "unknown to Mr. Dolianki", would be "currently wanted in Guyana". The Créteil prosecution has neither denied nor confirmed this information. "My client is ultimately not indicted for drug trafficking under the Penal Code, but for breaches of the Customs Code", welcomed Me Bitton.
In customs matters, he explained, "every traveler is automatically responsible for what he carries, so the indictment for customs infringement was automatic in this case".
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- Drug
- Cocaine
- Guyana
- Justice