A Region One miner was asked to post $320,000 bail for his release on Monday after he was charged with trafficking almost 15 pounds of marijuana while travelling in a West Coast Berbice minibus in which a police officer was travelling.
Earl Vanlewin, 26, of Moruca Village, Region One, appeared at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer on Monday and faced a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
The Guyana Police Force said Vanlewin pleaded not guilty to the charge and bail was then set at $320,000.
In a statement, the (GPF) said that last Friday a Police Constable, who was a passenger in a West Berbice minibus bearing registration BAC 4952, reported that around 08:00hrs he joined the said bus at Lovely Lass Village, WCB, to go to work at the Mahaicony Police Station.
During his journey, the Police Constable said that he noticed “a high scent of marijuana” and as a result, he communicated with another rank who was on duty at the Mahaicony Police Station and told him about his suspicion.
At about 08:41hrs, the other rank stopped the said minibus on the Mahaicony Public Road and asked the passengers to take possession of their personal belongings, after which two travelling bags, one black and one multi-coloured were seen left under the second-to-last seat in the bus.
The rank asked who the bags belonged to and the driver pointed at Vanlewin. The rank took possession of the two bags and carried out a search. During the search, four wrapped parcels containing leaves, seeds, and stems, suspected to be cannabis were found.
The GPF said that Vanlewin was told of the offence, arrested and cautioned. He then told the police officer that he had collected the two bags from a man in Rosignol and was taking the bags to another man in Georgetown.
Vanlewin and the suspected cannabis were escorted to the Mahaicony Police Station, where the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 6.764 kilogrammes, which is equivalent to 14.9 pounds.
The man’s next hearing is slated for October 17.
