Teen, taxi driver arraigned with $5M cannabis bust

A teenager who is presently sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and a taxi driver were on Thursday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after they were arraigned in her court charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Michael Bascom, 41, of Phase One, Linden Housing Scheme, and 18-year-old Reva Bovell of Obama Drive, Linden pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them.
The Police state that on May 9, on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, they had in their possession 11.832 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
In an application for bail, Attorney-at-Law Clyde Forde told the court that his teenage client is scheduled to complete her Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams in June.
Forde added that, on the day in question, Bovell entered Bascom’s taxi at Obama Drive in Linden with nothing but her purse. However, the vehicle was intercepted at the Soesdyke junction by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), and the narcotics were found in the car, and not in his client’s possession.
Bascom, however, was not represented.
CANU prosecutor Kunyo Sandiford informed the court that there are oral and written caution statements made by the defendants that link them to the drugs.
Sandiford objected to bail being granted either defendant, citing the seriousness of the matter. The matter has been adjourned to May 24.