Jamal Barker, 19, who was allegedly found at a police roadblock with 480 grammes of cannabis, was remanded to prison on Monday by Magistrate Ruby Benn at the Blairmont Court.
Barker, of 236 ‘B’ Field Sophia, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Reports are that a senior police officer and other ranks were conducting a roadblock exercise at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice on Saturday when Barker was allegedly caught. He exited a bus about 200 yards from the roadblock and at the time, he was carrying a black backpack and was acting in a suspicious manner, prompting police to approach him. They searched the bag and allegedly found the drugs, which consisted of leaves, seeds and stems.
Barker’s attorney Joel Persid Edmond told the court that his client was a first time offender and asked for bail to be granted. However, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Cynthia Kelly asked the court to deny bail on the grounds of the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence.
Bail was denied and Barker was ordered to appear in the Weldaad Court on May 23.
