Three Canadian nationals, who arrived in Trinidad two weeks ago on vacation, appeared before a Trinidad magistrate on Monday, charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Amir Hamza Aman, Sara El Amine and Ricardo Patrick Dieudonne were denied bail when they appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Marcia Ayres-Caesar.

The court heard that around 1.50 p.m. on Sunday, detectives of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) were on duty at the Piarco International Airport when the trio were spotted.

The court was told the Canadians were about to board flight BW600 destined to Toronto, when they were stopped by OCNFB detectives and searched.

Upon searching their check-in luggage, bottles of Bailey’s Irish Cream were found in each of the suitcases. A closer inspection, the court heard, allegedly revealed liquid cocaine inside the bottles.

The court further heard that Aman, 30, a salesman of Brockington, Ontario, allegedly had 2.8 kilogrammes of the drugs, while El Amine, a student of Laval, Quebec, allegedly had 2.6 kilogrammes and Dieudonne, 30, a businessman of Brington Avenue, Nepal, allegedly had 1.8 kilogrammes.

The drugs had an estimated street value of TT$8 million, or Cdn $1.3 million.

Aman is believed to be the brother of Tareeq Aman, 19, who was beaten to death in Ottawa in 2001 in what was then believed to be a hate crime.

After refusing to grant the three accused bail, Ayres-Caesar adjourned the matter to May 20.