Court remands two Berbice men over 45lbs cannabis seizure

Two individuals were remanded to prison by Magistrate Michelle Matthias on Monday after being charged with possession of narcotics

Antonio Peters, aged 21, a construction worker residing at Lot 35, Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice, and Delvin Semple, aged 28, a taxi driver of Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, appeared before the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court when they faced a joint charge.

It is alleged that on April 23, while in Weldaad Village, they possessed 2,600 grams of cannabis with intent to traffic.

Both Peters and Semple entered pleas of not guilty.

In response to the bail application, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards argued that at the time the cannabis was discovered, Peters and Semple were the sole occupants of the vehicle.

Prosecutor Edwards also highlighted that both defendants are considered flight risks, citing the inaccurate address provided by Semple. He noted that if bail were granted to Semple, there would be no reliable address to locate him.

Furthermore, Prosecutor Edwards indicated to the Court that there is a video interview in which Peters and Semple admitted to the possession of the narcotics. He contended that bail should be denied due to the seriousness of the offense.

During the hearing, Attorney-at-law Horatio Edmondson, representing Peters, stated that the prosecution opposed bail without first knowing the nature of the substance involved. After correction by the Magistrate, Edmondson clarified that the substance is alleged to be cannabis until proven otherwise.

He further argued that there was no indication whether any of the confiscated substances had been sent for testing, and he noted the absence of any mention of a video by the prosecution.

Considering the gravity of the offense, Magistrate Matthias denied bail.

Peters and Semple were remanded to prison, and the case was transferred to the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court for additional proceedings.

According to a police statement, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at approximately 15:40 hours, during a stop-and-search operation on Weldaad Public Road, West Coast Berbice, officers intercepted a white Toyota Fielder Wagon with two male occupants. Searches conducted on the vehicle and the individuals revealed four large parcels, wrapped in transparent plastic and containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, concealed in two multi-colored shopping bags in the trunk.

The driver, Semple, and passenger, Peters, were both arrested and taken into custody.

The suspected cannabis, vehicle, and both individuals were transported to Weldaad Police Station, where the seized narcotics were weighed in their presence, totaling 45.4 pounds before being lodged.