A major drug offense case has emerged in the Caribbean, where two women hailing from the South American nation of Suriname have been ordered into pre-trial detention at Dodds Prison after facing a slate of cocaine-related criminal charges linked to an alleged smuggling operation in May.
The accused have been identified as 21-year-old Kylie Bretni Banga and 41-year-old Celita Saskia Aloewanai. Authorities allege that on May 23, Banga was found in possession of approximately one kilogram of cocaine, a shipment estimated to hold a street value of $50,000. Aloewanai, meanwhile, is accused of holding an additional 1.1 kilograms of the drug, worth roughly $55,000 on the illicit market.
Both women face four separate charges: possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to supply the drug to third parties, drug trafficking, and illegal importation of cocaine into the country.
The pair made their first official court appearance before Magistrate Keitha Ellis at the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court. When asked to enter a plea in response to the charges, both Banga and Aloewanai formally maintained their innocence, entering not guilty pleas to all counts laid against them.
Following the initial hearing, the court ruled that the two women would remain in custody at Dodds Prison ahead of their next scheduled appearance, which has been set for June 29. The case underscores ongoing efforts by regional law enforcement to crack down on cross-border drug trafficking moving through Caribbean transit routes. Prosecutors and law enforcement are expected to present evidence outlining the alleged smuggling plot when the case reconvenes at the end of next month.