Self-confessed drug dealer jailed for 4 years, fined $2.3M
…wheelchair-bound co-accused on $150,000 bail
A man who confessed to trafficking a quantity of cocaine was jailed for four years and fined $2.3 million on a drug trafficking charge. Akeem Lashley, 26, was brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday.
Jailed: Akeem Lashley
He admitted to having 1.5 kilograms of cocaine in his possession on August 8 at Norton Street, Georgetown, for the purpose of trafficking. The drug has an estimated street value of $1.5 million.
On bail: Andre Clarke
Lashley pleaded guilty, stating: “Everything is me own…I does do drugs.”
His co-accused, 43-year-old Andre Clarke, who is paralysed and confined to a wheelchair, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on $150,000 bail.
The parcels of cocaine that were allegedly found in Andre Clarke’s home
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Attorney-at-Law Thalia Thompson related that ranks from the agency searched Clarke’s home and found four parcels of cocaine.
Andre Clarke at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday
At the time of the raid, Lashley, Clarke, along with Police Sergeant Dion Bascom, 33; 54-year-old Rodwell George and Serena Mentus, 19, were at the premises.
Clarke’s lawyer, Adrian Thompson, petitioned the court for his client to be granted reasonable bail, highlighting that he is incapacitated. But the prosecutor made serious objections, citing the serious nature and prevalence of the offence. She also disclosed that the entire incident was captured on video in which Clarke made statements admitting to his involvement in the crime.
In the end, Clarke was released on $150,000 bail. The case was adjourned until September 5.
Clarke is no stranger to law enforcement officers. In fact, in 2011, he was arrested on a drug trafficking charge after 590 grams of cocaine was found buried in his yard.
The charge was, however, withdrawn against him the following year by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Since then, he has been a person of interest to CANU and several investigations into his operations have led to his recent arrest.
CANU has described him as a “known drug trafficker”. (G1)
