A taxi driver was on June 8th released on $200,000 bail after he denied trafficking 703 grammes of marijuana.
Antonio Ferriero, 25, of Lot 4125 Well Road, North Ruimveldt, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
It is alleged that on June 7, at Square of the Revolution, Georgetown, he had in his possession, 703 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
He pleaded not guilty.
The man’s attorney in a successful bail application argued that the narcotics were not found in her client’s possession. She said that the narcotics were in the back seat of the car which he used for work and which was used to transport many persons throughout that day. She also indicated her client’s willingness to submit to any conditions the court saw fit to attach to the bail.
In his presentation of the facts in the matter, the police prosecutor told the court that the police were acting on information they had received when they went to the Square of the Revolution and made contact with the taxi driver. The police then informed the man of their purpose for being there and requested to conduct a search. The search was permitted and upon making checks of the vehicle, the police saw a black bulky bag and a transparent bag containing leaves, seeds and stems in the front passenger seat. The man was then shown the bags and asked whether they belonged to him. After denying ownership of the suspected narcotics, the items and the man were escorted to the East La Penitence Police Station where the bags were weighed in the man’s presence. The suspected narcotics were then forwarded to the Guyana Forensic Science Lab to be analysed.
Chief Magistrate McLennan placed the man on $200,000 bail with the condition that he reports to the East La Penitence Police Station every Friday at 9 am. The matter was adjourned until June 30.
