Man busted with ganja gets 43 months, fined $5.1M

Over a year after being charged in connection with a drug seizure at the New Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Rayanthony Persaud was sentenced on Friday to 43 months in prison and fined $5.1 million.
This verdict was delivered following Persaud’s trial before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court. He was found guilty of possessing narcotics with intent to traffic.
Rayanthony Persaud, also known as “Tony”, of Victoria Avenue, Eccles, was one of three individuals apprehended by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) following the discovery of nearly 13 pounds of marijuana on March 22, 2022.
It was reported that on the day in question, CANU ranks conducted an intelligence-led operation at New Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD, during which they observed Persaud sitting inside a car that was parked outside of a house.
Persaud then exited the vehicle and went over to another parked vehicle where he collected a box from one Andrew Carew otherwise known as “Daddo”, 42, of Little Diamond, EBD, and went into a house.
At that point, CANU ranks intercepted the men and took possession of the box, which contained a quantity of marijuana carrying a street value of $1.7 million.
Carew also took the CANU ranks to his home, where they retrieved a parcel of marijuana.
Following the arrests, Persaud and Carew appeared in court where CANU Prosecutor Attorney-at-Law Thalia Thompson objected to the duo being released on bail, due to the nature, gravity, and penalty attached to the offences.
Persaud was represented by Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva, while Carew was represented by Attorney-at-Law Konyo Sandiford.
Relying on the defence of multiple occupancy, the lawyers petitioned the court for their clients to be released on reasonable bail.
Da Silva contended that his client was given a “box of tools” to store, and had no knowledge that narcotics were hidden at the bottom of the container.
Magistrate Scarce, after listening to submissions from both sides, remanded the men to prison, noting that no special reasons were raised by their respective counsels for the men to be placed on bail.
Carew admitted to the crime in September 2022 and subsequently received a 50-month prison sentence, coupled with a $5.1 million fine.