Bartica resident slapped with narco trafficking charge

A Bartica, Region Seven man was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he was slapped with a narcotics trafficking charge.
Junior Stevens appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts. The 31-year-old man denied the charge which stated that on June 11 at Fifth Street, Bartica, he had in his possession 554 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. 
Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves told the court that on the day in questioned, the Police who had the defendant under surveillance saw him placing a bag into a nearby shop. When the bag was searched by Police, the illegal substance was found.
However, defense attorney contended that Stevens was on the beach on the day of his arrest when he was approached by Police officers and questioned about a bag. He reportedly denied knowledge of the bag.
The attorney told the court that his client was taken into Police custody after which he was asked to open the bag which contained the illegal substance but refused to do so. As such, he was arrested and charged.
The case will continue on June 27.