Fisherman jailed for cocaine smoking utensil

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly today sentenced a 30-year-old fisherman to one-year imprisonment for having in his possession a utensil used to smoke cocaine.

Arshad Ally, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara admitted that on May 24 at Ruimveldt Police Station, he had an improvised pipe in his possession.

The court heard that on the day in question, Ally was arrested for a simple larceny offense and was taken to the Ruimveldt Police Station, where he was searched and the utensil was found in the right-side pocket of his pants.

In imposing the sentence, the Magistrate said: “That’s the lowest I can go.”

According to Section 12 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Control Act of Guyana, the offense attracts a penalty of 3-5 years imprisonment.

The section states that anyone having in possession any pipe or other utensil for use in connection with the smoking, inhaling or sniffing or otherwise using of opium, cannabis, heroin or cocaine or utensil used in the preparation of opium for smoking shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than $15,000 nor more than $30,000 together with imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than 10 years.