Ex-soldier admits to drug possession charges

Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Wednesday remanded an ex-soldier after he admitted to having cannabis in his possession and trafficking cocaine.
Joseph George was slapped with two narcotics trafficking charges and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The first charge stated that on January 21, 2020 at Seven Miles, School Street, Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), he had two grams of cannabis in his possession.
It was further stated that on the same day and location, he had 4.5 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
According to the prosecution’s case, about 18:15h on January 21, Police ranks, acting on information received, went to Seven Miles, School Street, Mahdia and met George.
The court heard that the ranks then requested to conduct a search on the 47-year-old man and during the search, two transparent bags with cannabis were found in his right pants pocket. A more extensive search was conducted, and the cocaine was found in the crotch of his pants. He was then arrested and charged for the offence.
George, during his emotional plea for mitigation, told the Magistrate that he spent a total of seven years behind bars and was recently released from prison.
The man admitted to the court that he became an addict while serving in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). He claimed that on several occasions he tried to quit, but was unsuccessful.
The Magistrate ordered that a probation report be conducted.
The father of five will return to court on January 29, 2020 for sentencing.