A 64-year-old Kuru Kuru woman was yesterday remanded to prison after she was charged with helping to supply students of the Kuru Kuru Training College with marijuana.
Suria Somaria, also known as ‘Sheila Gordon,’ appeared at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, where she was read a charge that alleged that between February 4 and February 9 at Kuru Kuru, on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, she aided a juvenile to supply other juveniles with a total of 28 grammes of cannabis.
Somaria, who the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) says had $1.2 million as well as smoking implements at her home, denied the charge. She was remanded until March 24, when her next hearing is due.
CANU, which found students with marijuana after being invited to conduct a search by the college’s administrators, was represented by Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford, while Somaria is being represented by attorney Mark Waldron.
In a press release issued yesterday, CANU stated that on February 9, it responded to an invitation by the authorities at the college and found three students with the drug as well as stories of recreational use by students.
As a result, a 15-year-old, who allegedly admitted to being the distributor of the cannabis on the college’s campus, and three students, ranging in age from 16 to 20, were detained by CANU.
It was noted that three of the four young men had nominal quantities of the drug and one had 20 grammes, which is above the statutory amount to qualify for a drug trafficking charge.
CANU said that with the cooperation of the parents and guardians of the detainees as well as officials of the School Welfare and Probation departments, it obtained statements from them. The four were subsequently released into the care of their parents and guardians and the School Welfare and Probation departments pending monitoring and counselling.
According to the statement, Somaria was identified as the supplier. CANU was unable to locate her at her home in Kuru Kuru since the evening of the search at the college but it said a search of her home uncovered a large quantity of cash totaling $1.2 million divided in containers throughout the house, cigarette lighters, wrapping paper for smoking, and tobacco leaves.
In addition, a freshly dug hole was found in sand in the back yard. CANU noted that no narcotics were found in the woman’s home.
Somaria was eventually arrested at her sister’s home at Kuru Kuru last week Wednesday.
