Bajan fined $51.9M, jailed after large ganja find on ship

A Barbadian national was fined $51.9M and jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty and took the rap for his five other crewmen who were arrested earlier this week for a major marijuana bust at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation Wharf in Georgetown.

Michael Forde of Luke Avenue, Dayville St Michael, Barbados appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann Mclennan.

Forde pleaded guilty and did not give any explanation to the court.  The three other men who appeared in court were Hardat Monilall of Charlotte Street, Bourda Georgetown, Trevor Robinson of First Avenue Thorpes St James, Barbados and Randy Welch; they were all released and the charges were dropped against them. The two others who were arrested – James Emptage and Clyde Outridge – did not appear in court.

The offence read that the defendants on October 07, 2020, trafficked 69.246kilograms of cannabis, which amounts to 150 pounds.

Prosecutor of the Customs Anti-Narcotics (CANU) Konyo Sandiford said Welch was charged separately for aiding and abetting trafficking while Monilall and Robinson were charged for trafficking.

Ranks of CANU on Wednesday interdicted a Barbados Cargo Vessel at the GNIC Wharf with bulk marijuana destined for Barbados.

The Barbados Registered cargo vessel marked “CV1 Barbados” was laden with perishables (vegetables inclusive of plantains, coconut, pumpkins) and other goods.

The CANU in a statement said the vessel was searched twice this week as part of an ongoing operation; the first time was October 6 and then a second search was done on October 7, 2020.

It was on the second search that 71 large bulk parcels of marijuana weighing 69.246 kilograms were uncovered concealed in a section of the vessel.

The vessel is believed to have been in Guyana for several weeks and had undergone repairs whilst docked here.