Brothers remanded over Rupununi ganja, shotguns

Three brothers who were brought before the court for allegedly cultivating cannabis and having shotguns in their possession at Rupununi were yesterday refused bail by Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.

Warren Smith, 35, Ben Smith, 26, and Prince Smith, 19, of Moca Moca Settlement, Rupununi appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. Prince and Ben pleaded not guilty to a joint charge of cultivating a prohibited plant. Prince also pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession. Warren and Prince also pleaded not guilty to two other unlawful possession charges and Warren faced a single unlawful possession charge.

It is alleged that on March 9 at Moca Moca Settlement, Prince and Ben cultivated cannabis, a prohibited plant. On the same date Prince is accused of having a 20-gauge shotgun without a firearm licence.

Prince and Warren allegedly had one 20-gauge shotgun and one 20-gauge double barrel shotgun and two casings without being the holders of a firearm licence.

Their case was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for June 5.