An Upper Berbice River man was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with cultivating prohibited plants at De Veldt Village, Berbice River on Friday last.
Richard Burnett also known as ‘Richie’, 37, a carpenter of Wiruni Village, Upper Berbice River, appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Renita Singh where he was read the charge of cultivating prohibited plants at De Veldt Savannah, Upper Berbice River.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison by Magistrate Singh.
He will return to court on December, 6, for report.
According to the Guyana Police Force in a release, an eradication exercise was conducted between 5 am and 2 pm last Friday when ranks from the Guyana Police Force’s Marine Section and Narcotics Branch, along with ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard, conducted a search at De Veldt Savannah, Upper Berbice River.
The release said they found the cannabis farm, measuring about four acres and containing two camps and two drying areas as well as the two shotguns with ammunition.
The police also reported that about 20,000 cannabis plants, measuring from six inches to two feet in height, were found on the farm. The plants had an estimated weight of 400 pounds, while another set of cannabis, found at the two drying areas, had an estimated weight of 800 pounds.
In total, they all had a street value of $489,000,000, and Burnett who the police said was found tending to plants was arrested at the location.
Additionally, during the search on the first camp, a 12-gauge shotgun which was loaded with three live cartridges was found, along with a Guyana passport, an identification card, and one birth certificate, all of which were in the name of the said farmer.
Meanwhile, a search on the second camp led to the discovery of another suspected 12-gauge shotgun and four live 12-gauge cartridges. Both shotguns and the ammunition were lodged.
