Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

September 2 is the date set for the start of a Preliminary Inquiry before Chief Magistrate Patricia Mark into drug-related charges brought by police in Grenada against two Dominican women who were taken into custody at the Point Salines International Airport (PSIA).

Twenty-three year old Shana Nadia Challenger, a Hairdresser and 19 year old student Tasha Martin were charged jointly by officers from the Drug Squad with Doing an Act Preparatory to Drug Trafficking on August 14.

The Dominicans made their second Court appearance on Tuesday where they were remanded to the richmond Hill prison until September 2. When the suspects made their first appearance on August 17, they did not offer a plea on the grounds that they had planned to seek legal representation for the next hearing.

Challenger and Martin were picked up by undercover police officers at PSIA after large sums of cash were found in their possessions. Sources told GRENADA TODAY that the two arrived in Grenada aboard a LIAT flight 321 from Barbados and that after having been questioned by Immigration Officers, members of the Drug Squad were called in and a search was conducted on both females.

According to law enforcement officials, a search on Challenger who had a cream 'LaCoste' pouch around her waist contained US$559.30 & Euro$2,500.00. A further search revealed $US30,000 .00 and Euros 39,000.00 tucked away in her underwear.

The police source stated that Martin was also found with a blue 'LaCoste' pouch around her waist containing US$1,450.00 and Euro2,500.00 as well as US$30,000.00 and Euro$23,000.00 hidden in a short pants. When the two appeared before Magistrate Mark Tuesday, they were represented by Attorney-at-Law Peter David of the law firm, Ciboney Chambers.

Meanwhile, a Trinidad-born woman Geer Callender, 39, was also ordered to remain at the Richmond Hill prison by the Chief Magistrate in connection with a number of fraud charges brought against her by local police.

Callender is associated with Premiere Ecological Construction company at Grand Anse St. George's. She reportedly came into Grenada to try and cash in on business in the aftermath of the massive destruction to the island by Hurricane Ivan last September. Callender who was charged with three counts of fraud was residing at Westerhall in St. David's when police swooped down on her.

Well-placed sources say the suspect attracted the attention of the lawmen after issuing a few bounced cheques to a a number of local companies in the south of the island for building material.

There are unconfirmed reports that Callender might have also "conned" the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government of thousands of dollars.