MAR 13

Convicted drug lord, Daniel "Diego" Peters has had another cocaine-related charge slapped on him by the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).

Peters, 43, of La. Potrie, St. Andrew's appeared before a Magistrate's Court in Grenville on Friday to face charges of Money Laundering, possession and Trafficking of Cocaine following an operation conducted by officers attached to the Drug and Strike Squads.

The small businessman served a two-year jail sentence about seven years ago after a high court convicted him for possession of 45 kilos of cocaine following a sting operation involving the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of the United States.

Police also laid similar charges on two of Peters' children - 19 year old secondary school Teacher Charmaine Toussaint and 17 year old student, Kevin Toussaint.

The charges stem from an operation carried out at the home of Peters in the wee hours of the morning on March 4. Officers attached to the Drug and Strike Squads claimed they had recovered over $EC$5000.00 cash in a draw along with 8.21 grams of Cocaine on a shelve in the Living Room.
Peters also had additional charges of Trafficking of Cocaine and Money Laundering slapped on him following an earlier police raid carried out at his home on February 4 where a large amount of cash were seized.

According to a source, at the time of the February 4 operation, the convicted drug trafficker was detained by the lawmen for 48 hours but eventually released after he threatened legal action.

An official police report said on Friday that the lawmen discovered eight point two one (8.21) grams of Cocaine and Cash amounting to $5,856.40 EC, $1,426.00 U.S, œ30.00 Pounds and $20.00 Canadian at the residence.

When Peters appeared before Magistrate Henry Paryag at the Grenville Court, he was placed on $10.000 bail after Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Damien Lee made no objection to the defense request.

As soon as he came out of the small court room, the accused was brought back to the nearby police station where he was officially charged for the February 4 incident.
Peters is being represented by barristers at-Law Peter David and Teddy St. Louis.

David told GRENADA TODAY that the police claimed to have found traces of Cocaine on the money seized during the operation at the home of Peters on February 4.

In all Peters, had 5 charges relating to Money Laundering, Trafficking and Possession of Cocaine and was placed on $20.000 bail. He is expected to return to court on March 26 to answer charges stemming for the February 4 incident and April 16 for the matters relating to the March 4 raid at his home.

Peters' two children were placed on $3000.00 bail each and will make their first court appearances on March 26. A noisy gathering on La. Potrie residents flocked outside the Grenville Police Station to cheer the accused soon after he was released.

Peters is known to be considered as a "hero" in La Potrie due to his generosity to poor villagers. He is also often 'quoted' by politicians looking for support in the rural St. Andrew North-east constituency.

One resident told this newspaper that some of the monies seized by the lawmen was from a susu that Peters had collected. The story was also confirmed by David, one of the two lawyers retained by the drug lord.

One of the children is alleging that he saw an officer place the alleged cocaine in the house. Defense lawyers are planning to use this as part of their case against the State.
The Court was told that Special Prosecutor with the government Hugh Wildman will be handling the matter for the State when it resumes on March 26.