Trafficker caught with over 26 kilos of ganja found guilty

A Georgetown man who claimed his cousin was responsible for more than 26 kilograms (kg) of cannabis found in a barrel at his residence was on Tuesday found guilty of drug trafficking. Seon Abbensetts, 36, was convicted after acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty found him guilty following the conclusion of a trial that had been ongoing since last year. He is now awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for July 31. Abbensetts was charged in 2023 with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Chapter 10:10.
The charge arose from an August 12, 2023 police operation at a house located at the corner of Bent and Lime Streets, Georgetown. During the raid, police discovered 26.127 kg of cannabis concealed in a blue barrel with a black cover. The drugs were packaged in transparent plastic parcels. Abbensetts was arrested at the scene, charged and brought before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on August 16, 2023. He was initially remanded to prison but was later granted bail during the course of the trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Represented by Attorney Kiwanna Jefford, Abbensetts denied the allegations. His defence hinged on the claim that the narcotics had been taken to the house by his cousin, referred to as “Spirit,” who he said had delivered household items. Abbensetts insisted he had never checked the contents of the barrel.
However, in her ruling on Tuesday, Magistrate McGusty rejected the defence and dismissed the story about “Spirit” as a fabrication. She noted that Abbensetts failed to provide any supporting evidence or witnesses and referenced a video-recorded interview. She said that when arrested, Abbensetts did not deny knowledge of the cannabis. Instead, he told police that his girlfriend, who was at the residence during the raid, knew nothing about the drugs.
The Magistrate described the mention of “Spirit” as a calculated attempt to mislead the court and emphasised that the amount of cannabis discovered was significant. She accepted the prosecution’s position that Abbensetts was the occupant of the premises and had control over the contents found inside.
As the guilty decision was handed down, Abbensetts continued to maintain his innocence. His attorney has since requested that a probation report be prepared ahead of sentencing. He was remanded to prison until his return to court later this month.