Accused ganja traffickers refused bail

Two men accused of trafficking 17 kilos of cannabis were yesterday remanded to prison.

The allegation against Marvin Pestano, 30, and Aldo Brock, 36, is that on September 13, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, they had in their possession 17 kilogrammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Both men denied the charges when they were read to them by Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

No details other than those stated in the charge were presented to the court.

Pestano resides at 113 Campbellville Housing Scheme, while Brock resides at 102 Mahaicony.

The prosecution objected to the men being granted bail in the light of the nature, gravity, seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

Prosecutor Michael Grant also pointed out that Sections 94 of the Narcotics Act requires that special circumstances be advanced for the granting of bail. No such reasons were, however, given.

The unrepresented men were subsequently informed that they would be remanded to prison until today, when they appear before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.