Sears pleads not guilty; remanded to prison for drug trafficking

Former Member of Parliament for the Alliance for Change (AFC) and Linden educator, Devin Sears, was remanded to prison on Thursday after he was charged with drug trafficking.

Sears and his co-defendant, Albert Sandy made their appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Thursday before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool.

Sears pleaded not guilty and was remanded until November 11, 2025, for report and disclosure. Sandy pleaded guilty and took full responsibility for the narcotics. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Sears was represented by attorneys Nigel Hughes and Bernard Da Silva.

The two men were arrested on Monday night after police uncovered more than 310.71 kilogrammes (approximately 685 pounds) of cannabis in a minibus in the vicinity of the Old Bamia Police Checkpoint, Linden. Sears was the driver and the vehicle registered to the Region 10 Tourism Committee Inc.

While Sears remained silent, Sandy allegedly admitted ownership of the narcotics, telling investigators that the drugs belonged to him and that he had paid Sears to transport him to Parika.

Police said Sears began acting suspiciously, “sweating profusely” and when asked what he was transporting, Sears reportedly told the officers, “I am transporting tourism plants.”