Former APNU/AFC MP freed of drug trafficking charge

Former A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament Devin Sears has been freed of a drug trafficking charge after Magistrate Rushell Liverpool upheld a no-case submission made by his attorneys.
Magistrate Liverpool ruled that there was insufficient evidence linking Sears to then more than 300 kilograms of marijuana found in a vehicle he was driving in 2025.
The ruling was handed down on Thursday at the Linden Magistrate’s Court. The charge stemmed from an incident on October 20, 2025, when Police ranks at the Old Bamia Checkpoint on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway stopped a dark blue Toyota Hiace minibus, BAJ 4486, registered to the Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Tourism Committee Inc.

Police said Sears was driving while 69-year-old farmer Albert Sandy occupied the front passenger seat.
A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered 22 black plastic bags and four large brown canvas bags containing cannabis weighing 310.71 kilograms, or more than 680 pounds.
Investigators alleged that when questioned, Sears reportedly said he was transporting “tourism plants” and later remained silent after being cautioned.
Sears and Sandy were subsequently charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and appeared before Magistrate Liverpool on October 23, 2025.
While Sears pleaded not guilty, Sandy admitted ownership of the cannabis, pleaded guilty to the charge and told the court he had paid Sears to transport him to Parika. Sandy was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Sears was initially remanded but later secured $400,000 bail from the High Court.