Resort owner among 3 arrested in Region 1 drug bust
Police have taken three individuals into custody following the discovery of cocaine and marijuana at the Lorenzo and Deneve (L&D) Resort in Kumaka, Region One (Barima-Waini).
According to reports from Mabaruma, officers executed a search warrant at the resort around 21:30h on Friday. The target was Room Four, occupied by a 32-year-old owner of the establishment, and her 26-year-old brother, who is the maintenance worker at the resort.
During the search, Police said a box containing various costumes drew attention, leading them to find a black plastic bag concealed within it. This bag held a quantity of seeds, leaves, and stems suspected to be marijuana.
The drugs that were found during the raid
Further investigation led the officers to the washroom area, where they discovered another plastic bag containing a creamish/whitish substance believed to be cocaine.
Upon questioning, the woman allegedly stated that the illicit substances belonged to her boyfriend, who had been staying with her for a few days. She reportedly claimed that they were having relationship issues and suggested that he might have set her up to implicate her.
Law enforcement officials conducted an additional search, this time in an abandoned fridge near the resort’s lobby. They discovered another stash of marijuana – seeds, leaves, and stems wrapped in brown scotch tape.
Both siblings denied any knowledge of the narcotics found.
During their transit to the station, the Police said they saw the boyfriend of the woman walking on the road, and the woman promptly pointed him out to the officers.
He was taken into custody but has denied knowledge of the drugs. The trio was transported to the Mabaruma Police Station where they remain in custody.
At the station, the narcotics were weighed in their presence and the marijuana amounted to a total of 382 grams, while the cocaine weighed 20 grams. The narcotics wrapped in brown scotch tape accounted for 449 grams.
Also at the station, the woman made a report against her boyfriend, claiming that he had assaulted her. As a result, she was escorted to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital for medical attention, where she received treatment and was issued a medical certificate.
The man, during questioning, allegedly admitted to having a romantic relationship with the woman and staying in room four with her for four days. He, however, denied the assault allegations. (G9)
