Prison officer jailed for drug trafficking, 3 others granted bail

Walter Benn, a prison officer attached to the Mazaruni Prison in Region #7 (Cuyuni- Mazaruni), has been sentenced to two years and five months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
His conviction stems from a major drug bust on Wednesday, when he was caught attempting to smuggle into the Mazaruni Prison what was suspected to be cannabis concealed in Ensure bottles.
It has been reported that at approximately 15:57h on Wednesday, a prison officer on duty at the Mazaruni Prison front gate conducted a mandatory search on Benn after he returned from signing a document. Benn had presented an Ensure bottle wrapped in a black plastic bag, and upon inspection, it was found to contain cannabis. The discovery was immediately reported, and Benn was arrested.
In an interview with Assistant Superintendent (ASP) of Prisons Rodey Denhart, Benn admitted to having additional amounts of narcotics stored in his living quarters and at his home. A subsequent search of his living quarters uncovered three more Ensure bottles containing a total of 272 grams of cannabis.
Later that evening, an intelligence-led operation was launched by another ASP and a team of officers at Benn’s residence. There, Benn’s reputed wife, Tecina Angel Willis, a 22-year-old firefighter, admitted to transferring narcotics and three cell phones to her neighbour Melissa Allen, a 28-year-old vendor from Mora Camp, Essequibo River.
Allen had then handed the items to Rhon Smith, a 36-year-old construction worker, who concealed them at his home.

However, Smith cooperated with investigators and led them to a clump of bushes behind his home, where they recovered nine more Ensure bottles containing cannabis, along with three cell phones. In total, 856 grams of cannabis were seized.
Benn was later charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 51)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Chapter 10:10.
At his hearing on Thursday, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced.
Meanwhile, Willis, Allen and Smith have also been charged with the same offence. Their case was called in the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, and each of them pleaded not guilty.
They have been placed on bail in the sum of $80,000 each, and the matter has been adjourned to March 12, for continuation.
Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, alluding to recent attempts by members of the public to either throw contraband items over prison fences, or place such items around prison perimeters, had recently said additional security measures would be employed within the confines of each prison location.
Elliot had also indicated that persons’ movements near prison locations would be restricted, and in some cases, stop-and-search exercises would be conducted.
Moreover, he had indicated that the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) would also be erecting signs at strategic points outside the prisons, admonishing the public to desist from such acts, and warning of the consequences attached thereto.
Meanwhile, Elliot has warned that there would be no let-up in bringing down corrupt prison officers, family members, and friends of inmates who are bent on breaking the law.
“Public safety is a key component of the prison system, and all efforts will be made to achieve such a task,” he has said.