Foreigner gets 54 months jail, two others remanded for $14M cannabis find

A 56-year-old national from the Dominican Republic was on Friday sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment while his two co-accused were remanded to prison in relation to the recent $14M cannabis bust on board a vessel at a city wharf.

Fredy Diaz Cabrera of Montrose, East Coast Demerara along with the mother of his child Epiphany McLennan called Tiffany of ‘B’ Field Sophia, Georgetown and Eustace Rodrigues called ‘Fine-Man’, 45, of Albouystown, were arraigned before City Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

Rodriguez was charged with trafficking 16 kilograms of cannabis on January 18, at his Albouystown home.

Meanwhile, Cabrera and McLennan were charged for trafficking the same narcotics on January 19, at the GNIC Wharf along Lombard Street, Georgetown.

These two pleaded not guilty to their respective charges, claiming that they do not have knowledge of the suspected cannabis.

Meanwhile, Cabrera confessed and told the court that he was given the narcotics by Rodriguez on January 18, to send to Barbados.

Cabrera further told that court that in 2001, he was released from prison in the United States after serving two years for trafficking cocaine.

Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus sentenced Cabrera to serve four years, six months imprisonment and imposed a $14M fine.  Rodriguez and McLennan were remanded to prison until February 25.

According to reports, on Wednesday last, ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) arrested 19 foreign nationals, including Cabrera after 16.046 kg (36 lbs) of cannabis was discovered on board a foreign vessel.

CANU in a statement said the illegal drugs have a street value of approximately $14 million (US$68, 293).

“If this narcotic had reached its intended destination, its street value would have been much higher,” CANU said in a statement.

The vessel ‘Diego’ was scheduled to leave Port Georgetown Wednesday morning with a quantity of cement.