Hopetown bus driver remanded on drug trafficking charge

A 44-year-old bus driver of Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was on Tuesday remanded to prison after being charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Eulet Mars appeared at the Blairmont Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on November 2, he was found with 164.7 pounds of ganja in his possession.
Mars’ lawyer, Dexter Smart, requested bail, stating that his client has no prior offences and is the sole provider of his family. Smart also submitted that his client was hired for transportation purposes and was not aware of the items he was transporting.
However, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards objected, stating Mars was the only occupant of the minibus and should have known what he was carrying.
Magistrate Michelle Matthias refused bail, citing the serious nature of the offence and the large amount of cannabis involved.
The case has been transferred to the Weldaad Magistrates Court for November 28.
It was reported that on the day in question, Mars was driving a minibus when he was intercepted by police at Foulis Public Road, West Coast Berbice.
A search of the vehicle uncovered several bulky bags containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
The suspected narcotics were weighed in the presence of the driver and amounted to 164.7 pounds.