Miner jailed for ganja trafficking

A gold miner was on Tuesday morning slapped with a three-year jail sentence, and ordered to pay a whopping fine of .2 million by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Eon Simpson pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that on April 13, 2017 at Itaballi Police Checkpoint (Region Seven – Cuyuni-Mazaruni), he had in his possession of one kilogram of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The unrepresented man readily admitted to the offence, explaining that he was driven to traffic the illicit drug owing to the financial situation of his family.

He said he had a one-year-old son with his fiancée, who was currently four months pregnant.

According to the prosecution, Simpson’s vehicle was stopped and searched as per routine at the checkpoint and the substance was found in a black plastic bag amid his luggage. He was then transported to the Bartica Police Station, where he was charged with the offence.