Tabatinga man jailed for 3 years over ganja trafficking

The discovery of 48 grams of marijuana has led to one man being jailed for three years and fined $50,000. Twenty-one-year-old Jason Clement of Tabatinga, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge when he appeared before a Magistrate on Monday.
As part of efforts to clamp down on micro-narcotics trafficking in Lethem, Region Nine, ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Tuesday, May 2, arrested three men, including Clement, with small amounts of the illegal substance.

CANU said its officers conducted a narcotics operation in Tabatinga, which led to the discovery of a quantity of suspected cannabis. This resulted in the arrest of three individuals: Clement and 24-year-old Leylon Winter, both of Tabatinga Central Rupununi; and 37-year-old Neil Ross of Bachelors Adventure, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
The suspects were escorted to the Lethem Police Station, along with the narcotics, contained in 31 small zip-lock bags. The substance tested positive for cannabis, and weighed a total of 48 grams.
According to CANU, these operations are part of the agency’s strategy to combat micro-trafficking within various communities, including schools, as recently reported in the press.
In fact, following reports of students selling narcotics in schools in Region Nine, CANU officers were able to apprehend several individuals suspected to be facilitators of these illegal activities.
Three suspects were arrested in Tabatinga and were found in possession of parcels of cannabis amounting to 260 grams. They have been identified as Mark Opie, 21; John Lee Edmond, 23; and Okemmey Jervis, 23, all of Tabatinga, Central Rupununi.
Region Nine Police Commander, Superintendent Raphael Rose recently disclosed that school-aged children are being engaged in the sale of illicit drugs.
This has prompted swift action by Police officers in the division, which has led to the arrest of the adults suspected of giving the minors the narcotics to sell.
Commander Rose said ranks were informed by a teacher in Karasabai District of a teen boy being accosted with drugs while at school. The teenager indicated that an adult was giving him the narcotics to sell, and the Police were able to arrest the adult.
There was a similar case in the Annai District, and the Police have also received information about persons selling drugs at the Annai Secondary School.
Head of CANU, James Singh recently revealed that the law enforcement agency would be collaborating with the Education Ministry and other stakeholders to develop a programme that would see officials visiting schools to educate children on the ills of using drugs. (G1)