Market vendor busted with over 1.1Kg cocaine charged, remanded

Wendez Pompey, a 24-year-old market vendor from Lot 23, Hill Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was remanded on Friday, after being charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Pompey appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on the charge, which stemmed from a Jan 9 incident where police intercepted Pompey driving minibus BAE 7328 on Mittleholzer Street in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
According to reports, at approximately 20:15h, officers from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), acting on intelligence, stopped Pompey, who was the lone occupant of the vehicle.
During a search of the minibus, they discovered a black haversack on the front passenger seat containing a transparent, brick-like parcel.
When the officers opened the parcel, it revealed a white substance that tested positive for cocaine. The cocaine, which was weighed at CANU headquarters, amounted to 1.156 kg.

At his court appearance, Pompey was represented by Attorney Jevon Cox and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Cox, in his bail application, argued that the offence required special reasons to be considered for bail. He pointed out that the illegal substance was not found on Pompey’s person, and that Pompey was unaware of the drugs in the bus.
Cox further argued that Pompey had brought this to the attention of CANU officers Thursday evening when he was arrested, and no contact had been made with the registered owner of the minibus at the time the charges were laid.
According to Cox, Pompey recounted that he had just delivered puri and was returning to the vehicle when he was confronted by officers. He maintained that his client was innocent and had no knowledge of the drugs found in the minibus.
Based on these circumstances, Cox asked the court to exercise discretion and grant bail for his client.
However, the prosecutor opposed bail, emphasising that no special reason should be given in this case and that the Counsel’s claims were contentious.
She revealed that based on CANU’s report, Pompey was the only person in the vehicle at the time, and the cocaine was found directly next to him on the passenger seat.
The prosecutor argued that Pompey had not denied knowledge of the drugs, and that the defence’s claims should be addressed during trial, not at this stage of proceedings.
The Magistrate denied Pompey’s bail application and placed him on remand. The matter was adjourned to Feb. 21, for continuation.
This is not the first time Pompey has faced legal troubles. In February 2004, he was arrested on the Suddie Public Road, Essequibo Coast, with 27.9 grams of cannabis in his possession. He pleaded guilty to the charge before Charity Magistrate Esther Sam, resulting in a fine of $41,550 and an order to perform two months of community service at the Ruimveldt Police Station. Failure to comply with the community service order would have led to two months’ imprisonment.