Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 24, 2014 News
Two Jamaican nationals, who were on Monday nabbed with over 60 pounds of marijuana at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), were yesterday remanded to prison on a drug trafficking charge.
Two days after the drug bust, Benjamin Isaiah Carrington, a 27-year-old vendor of Kingston, Jamaica, and Tamara Nicola Douglas, a 31-year-old hairdresser of Silverstone, Portland, Jamaica appeared in court to respond to separate charges of Possession of Narcotics for the purpose of Trafficking. Their first arraignment was before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The charge which was read to Carrington by Sewnarine-Beharry alleged that on April 21 at the CJIA he had 15.454 kilograms (33.84 lbs) of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Against Douglas, the police alleged that on the said date at the airport, too, she had in her possession 12.272 kilograms (26.88 lbs) of marijuana for trafficking purposes.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty and submitted bail applications through their lawyer, Madan Kissoon.
Kissoon who urged the court to consider bail for the accused contended that no substance was found on the persons of neither Douglas nor Carrington.
Inspector Michael Grant, who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the state however, argued that both defendants confessed in writing that they were the ones who packed their suitcases without any assistance.
Recapping, Grant explained that the two arrived at the airport on Fly Jamaica Flight OJ152. “As they were passing through the scanner, police ranks observed a block-like image in their suitcase.”
He said that they were later contacted and asked to identify their luggage. They complied and a physical search was conducted on the pieces of luggage which unearthed the illicit substance contained in transparent plastic bags.
The Prosecution explained that they were told of the offence, arrested and taken to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) where the substance was subsequently weighed and charges were instituted against them.
Grant argued that the serious nature and gravity as well as the fact that no special reason for bail was raised by the defence were sufficient grounds for them to be denied their pretrial liberty.
Furthering his objections, he asked the court to consider too that they are foreigners and as such pose a possible flight risk.
Responding, the Chief Magistrate upheld the objections of the Prosecution and remanded both Carrington and Douglas to prison. The case will be called again on May 28.
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