Toronto Reggae Singer Metussala (Mandela) Mannings held in drugs bust.

by DRW
(Jamaica)

The RCMP have charged a Toronto reggae singer Metussala and three others in a scheme to allegedly smuggle cocaine into Canada hidden in hollowed out fruit from Guyana.

The arrests stemmed from a seizure last week of 20 kilos of coke allegedly stashed in hollowed-out star apples that arrived at Pearson Airport in an air freight shipment destined for a nonexistent Toronto business.

Police alleged the coke, that was worth more than $5 million, was seized from fruit that were contained in 17 boxes.

The Mounties alleged the star apples were part of a larger shipment that included pineapples and mangoes that were sent from Guyana.

Born Matussala Mandela Mannings, in Georgetown Guyana, Mandela quickly gained his fame. After being called on stage by reggae artist Maxi Priest in 1993 people began to realize the boy had talent. He later began to tour with Zico, a local Guyanese promoter, who accompanied Mandela to local villages such as Buxton, Linden, the East Coast, and many others to perform for numerous amounts of people.

He moved on to bigger stage shows such as Reggae Sun splash and Sun fest in `93/94 along side major artists like Steel Pulse, he later performed on the `94/95 Sun splash and sun fest by him self, with Ruff Cut band. In 1997 he furthered his career onto the Untied States where Davie Simmons, who later became his manager, discovered him. He played a staring role the Buju Banton music video I wanna be loved Buju Banton being one of his musical influences, made this all the more enjoyable for Mandela. He spent 3 years in the United States performing at many charities and benefits as well as mini shows.

When he returned to Guyana his hometown in 2000 he then realized that this meant business. He linked up with a lot of local Guyanese artistes such as Negus Narine aka “Little Lexus” and began to make demo tapes to familiarize himself. Late 2006 he migrated to Canada where he presently resides.

Source:torontosun.com

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