Five men were on Thursday remanded to prison after they pleaded not guilty to the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
The five men being escorted to the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court
The men all from Berbice appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, where the charges were read by Magistrate Peter Hugh to them via Skype.
The men are: Kevin Archer, 20, a labourer of Maria Emrita Village, Berbice River; Ramnarine Punwasie, 23, a labourer of Lot 12 Palmyra Village, Berbice; Carl Williams, 51, a fisherman of Lot 6 Adelphi Settlement, East Canje; Marvin Kissoon, 39, a fisherman of Lot 8 Sheet Anchor, East Canje and Netram Punwasie, 38, a carpenter/mason of Lot 12 Palmyra Village.
Police stated that on Tuesday, April 28, at Edinburgh, they had in their possession 36.97 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
It was reported that the five men left from Fort Canje on an expedition up the Berbice River on Tuesday morning with the aim of purchasing marijuana, which is cultivated in that area. However, on their way back, the boat in which they were travelling collided with another resulting in the deaths of four men.
The dead men were identified as Kidman Lindie,53, of Sand Hills, Berbice River; Romario Denheart, 23, a surveyor attached to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, of 41 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam; Freeman Denheart,53, of Heathburn Village, Berbice and Julian Mc Kenzie, 40, of Sand Hills. Their bodies were pulled from the Berbice River on Wednesday.
Guyana Times understands that the Police had knowledge of the shipment of the illegal drug and had set up an operation to apprehend the men.
However, that information was transmitted to the captain of the boat who then made attempts to get to New Amsterdam earlier than expected.
It was while speeding on the river, the boats collided in the vicinity of Friendship, which is about 55 miles from New Amsterdam.
The five men are expected to make another court appearance on May 7, 2020.
