Four of the 14 suspected gang members, who were arrested by police last week during an operation in Linden, were yesterday faced with separate charges of possession of military paraphernalia and possession of ganja.
Those charged before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus were Rodwell Fraser, 20, of Lot 255 South Amelia’s Ward, Linden; Lennox Eswick, 23, of Lot 640 South Amelia’s Ward, Linden; Adrian Webster, 20, of Lot 326 Canvas City, Wismar, Linden; and Uriel Lewis, 29, of Lot 464 South Amelia’s Ward, Linden.
Fraser and Eswick were separately charged with possession of military paraphernalia, that is, a camouflage shirt, property of the Guyana Defence Force.
Police prosecutor Quinn Harris said on the day in question, police ranks, acting on information they received, went to Eswick’s home, where they conducted a search for drugs, guns and ammunition.
During the search, they found a camouflage shirt, suspected to be military paraphernalia, and therefore property of the GDF. After finding the shirt, they told Eswick of the offence, to which he allegedly replied, “Boss, I find the shirt.”
Eswick, who pleaded not guilty, said he did not know it was a crime. He was then released on $5,000 bail.
Fraser, who also pleaded not guilty, was released on $20,000 bail.
Both matters were transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court, where Eswick is due to appear on September 28th and Fraser is to attend on September 25th.
Webster and Lewis were also separately charged with possession of narcotics, which they allegedly had at their respective addresses on September 12th.
Webster was charged with possession of two grammes of cannabis, while Lewis was charged with possession of three grammes of cannabis.
Webster entered a guilty plea and told the court that he found the item on the ground while walking. “I pick it up because I use it for asthma. I don’t smoke it,” he said.
He was then fined $10,000 and ordered to perform six weeks of community service at the Wismar Police station.
Police prosecutor Quinn Harris said that ranks from the Wismar and Mackenzie Police Stations were on patrol when they received certain information. They proceeded to Webster’s yard, where they conducted a search on Webster.
During the search, a transparent Ziploc bag containing the suspected narcotic was found and the ranks then told him of the offence and cautioned him. His response was “Oh, Officer, is a lil thing. Help me, nah?” He was then taken to the Mackenzie Police Station, where the illicit substance was confirmed to be cannabis.
Lewis also entered a guilty plea.
According to the prosecutor, ranks from the Mackenzie Police Station, acting on information, went to Lewis’ home, where they conducted a search and found the suspected narcotics in two transparent Ziploc bags. While cautioning Lewis, he responded by saying, “Officer, this weed is me own.”
He was then arrested and taken to the Mackenzie Police Station, where the narcotic was weighed in his presence.
Lewis told Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus that he was not certain that it was illegal to have marijuana in one’s possession. He was also fined, $12,000 and ordered to do community service at the Wismar Police Station for six weeks.
Last Thursday’s operation, which lasted for six hours, was spearheaded by ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department’s Major Crimes Unit, who conducted searches in Wismar and Mackenzie, Linden.
Police had said the men were being questioned in relation to several offences, including possession of narcotics and arson.
They were granted an extension by a court to keep those who weren’t charged in custody and they may still face charges this week.
