A 22-year-old gold miner was arrested following the discovery of nearly 300 grams of cannabis during an intelligence-led police operation at Agatash Village, Essequibo River, on Wednesday.
Police ranks reportedly moved into a makeshift camp where they met the suspect, identified as Nicholas Allen of Potaro Road, Bartica. A search of the camp revealed a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis, which was weighed in his presence and amounted to 298.4 grams. The narcotics were processed and lodged as evidence.
A 17-year-old female who was at the camp at the time was also taken into custody. Police noted that Allen was additionally wanted on a warrant issued by the Suddie High Court in relation to a rape offence.
Allen appeared before Tariq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, December 4, where he was charged with Possession of Narcotics for the Purpose of Trafficking, contrary to Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Chapter 10:10.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and fined GYD $30,000.
Investigations are continuing.