4 years jail, $27.6M fine for trafficking over 100lbs ganja

A 35-year-old Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme, East Canje Berbice resident was sentenced to four years imprisonment Thursday and slapped with a $27.6M fine for trafficking of 102 pounds of cannabis.

Jairam Lallman appeared before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and admitted that on December 2, 2019, at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, he had 46.59 kilograms of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

In a plea of mitigation, Lallman apologised for his actions and begged the court for leniency.

Prosecutor of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Narissa Leander told the court that Lallman was intercepted in motorcar PFF 3516 behind the Botanical Gardens. The car was searched and parcels of suspected bulk marijuana were found in the trunk.

Leander told the court that Lallman cooperated with investigators and gave an oral statement detailing how he collected and transported the cannabis.

The defendant told CANU ranks that a cousin instructed him to pick up the illegal drugs at Abary, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

He borrowed his brother’s car and went to the location where he met two men who handed over the drugs.

Lallman then drove to Georgetown when he was caught.  Two other suspects were in custody, but they were released on Wednesday afternoon by CANU.