3 Berbicians charged for cocaine, ganja trafficking

Two men and a widow from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) were on Friday arraigned for the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Reginald Motie, 24, a cattle farmer of High Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, was hauled before Magistrate Peter Hugh at New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
During the court hearing, the prosecutor told the court that on May 30 at about 15:00h, Police ranks, acting on information received, swooped down on a location at Vryheid, West Canje, Berbice, and caught Motie tending to the acre of marijuana plants which measured between two and five feet in height. Also, 6500 cannabis seedlings were found and subsequently destroyed.
According to Police, the estimated street value of the cannabis plants is $5,824,000. Magistrate Hugh released Motie on $100,000 bail. The case will continue on June 30.
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Devon Pydana of Adelphi Village, East Canje and Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, also appeared before Magistrate Hugh.
The charge stated that on May 30, at Stanleytown, he had in his possession 27 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
He too denied the charge and was released on $100,000 bail. His case will continue on July 8, 2020.
In 2015, Pydana was charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving after he drove a car filled with party-goers into two parked trucks along the Golden Grove Public Road, at West Coast Berbice, and one count of refusing to undergo a breathalyser test.
Additionally, 54-year-old Bibi Habida Yakub of Johanna North, Black Bush Polder, whose house was searched and a quantity of marijuana was found hidden in a gas stove and concealed in two bottles, was also hauled before the Mibicuri Court in Black Bush Polder to answer to a marijuana charge.
The widow appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore and pleaded guilty to the offence when it was read to her.
The court heard that when the plastic bottles were opened, ranks discovered several foil wrappings containing what was suspected to be the leaves, seeds, and stems of the cannabis sativa plant, which weighed a total of 65 grams.
After listening to the prosecutor, Magistrate Moore ordered Yakub to pay a fine of $30,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in her serving three weeks in prison.