Georgetown – A 51-year-old Barbadian national was on Friday jailed for four years and fined GUY$51 million after he appeared in court following a major marijuana bust at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation Wharf here earlier this week.
Michael Forde of Luke Avenue, Bayville St Michael, in Barbados, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mclennan and pleaded guilty to the charge of trafficking in narcotics without giving an explanation to the court.
Forde was among four men who appeared in court with the others being fellow Barbadian, Trevor Robinson of First Avenue Thorpes, St James, Barbados; Hardat Monilall, Randy Welch and Trevor Robinson of Guyana.
The three were all released and the charges against them dropped. Two other men, who were arrested during the drug bust on Wednesday – James Emptage and Clyde Outridge – did not appear in court.
The Court was told that the defendants on October 7, trafficked 69.246kilograms of cannabis, which amounts to 150 pounds.
Prosecutor of the Customs Anti-Narcotics (CANU) Konyo Sandiford said Welch was charged separately for aiding and abetting trafficking while Monilall and Robinson were charged for trafficking.
CANU members had on Wednesday seized the Barbados registered cargo vessel at the GNIC Wharf with bulk marijuana destined for Barbados.
The court heard that the vessel, named “CV1 Barbados” was laden with perishables, including vegetables plantains, coconut, pumpkins and other goods.
CANU, in a statement, said the vessel was searched twice this week as part of an ongoing operation; the first time was October 6 and then a second search a day later.
It said that it was during the second search that 71 large bulk parcels of marijuana weighing 69.246 kilograms were uncovered concealed in a section of the vessel.
The vessel is believed to have been in Guyana for several weeks and had undergone repairs whilst docked here. (CMC)
