Prison Officer remanded for allegedly smuggling ganja into Camp St. jail

Shondell Watson, a 26-year-old Prison Officer of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown was remanded to prison Friday for allegedly smuggling over 314 grams of cannabis into the Camp Street Prison.

Waston appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty and was remanded to prison until July 2, 2019.

It is alleged that Watson on June 27, 2019, at the Camp Street Prison, Georgetown, she had 314 grams of cannabis in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The unrepresented mother of three pleaded not guilty to the charge and told the court that she was set up since the drugs were not found in her possession.

Police Prosecutor Ceon Blackman objected to bail being granted to Watson citing the seriousness of the charge and the fact that the defendant had knowledge of the drugs.

Blackman told the court that on the day in question at about 08:20 hrs, Watson was on duty at the Camp Street Prison and was observed by the Principal Prison Officer acting in a suspicious manner while taking “something” for a prisoner.

The Prison Officer stopped Watson and conducted a search on her person when he found a parcel wrapped in brown scotch tape strapped to the waist of her skirt.

A search was also done on Watson’s handbag and a yellow food bowl was found with cannabis stashed inside.

Watson, however, explained that she left to use the washroom and while on her way out, she was stopped and searched by the Principal Prison Officer.

She claimed that the drugs were found on the floor.