Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton yesterday remanded a Brazilian national and a Guyanese to prison after they were allegedly found with a quantity of cannabis in a haversack.

Sadalas Sena Silva of Brazil and Roger Francis of Kumu Village, Central Rupununi, both entered not guilty pleas to the joint charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

They both denied that on July 19, at Lethem, Central Rupununi, they had 2 kilogrammes 750 grammes of cannabis in their possession, for the purpose of trafficking.

Prosecutor Shellon Daniels had requested that both defendants be remanded to prison and that the matter be transferred to the Lethem Magistrates’ Court.

The magistrate granted the prosecutor’s request and ordered that the duo make a court appearance at the Lethem Magistrates’ Court on September 7.

The facts of the case as stated by the prosecutor are that on the day in question the police were on patrol duty in the Kumu Village, Central Rupununi, when they observed Silva, Francis and another man on motorcycle.

She said that when the police stopped them, the third man escaped, leaving Silva wearing a haversack along with Francis. She said that the police searched the haversack and discovered the cannabis wrapped up in a black plastic bag.

The two were then told of the offence, arrested and later charged.