Two residents, both of 156 Middle Road, La Penitence, were yesterday remanded to prison after being arraigned on narcotics trafficking charges following a police raid of their dwelling where the illegal substances were allegedly found.
The allegation against Owen Atkins is that on June 7 at 156 Middle Road, La Penitence, he had in his possession 18 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
On the said day and at the same address, Brian Matthews is accused of having in his possession 278 grammes of cannabis and six grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Both men denied the allegations when they were read to them by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
According to the prosecution, the illegal substance was found in Atkins’ living room in his presence and he admitted to the offence after which he was arrested and charged.
Regarding Matthews, the prosecution told the court that after police conducted a search in his apartment, the cannabis was found in a transparent Ziploc bag in a cupboard, while the cocaine was found on a table.
Attorney Trenton Lake who represented Atkins, 29, said that according to his instructions, no cannabis was found in his client’s apartment. In fact, counsel said that the search was effected outside his client’s apartment building which houses several other apartments.
Lake said his client was told that the illegal substance belonged to him but he denied this. However, he was later arrested, charged and placed before the court.
Meanwhile, Matthews’ attorney said that at no time was any illegal substance found in his client’s possession nor in his apartment.
The prosecution objected to both men being admitted to bail, citing that the offence is serious and prevalent and its facts differed from that of the defence.
After listening to the submissions of both defence and prosecution, the court informed the defendants that they would be remanded to prison.
Atkins was ordered to return to court on June 29 while Matthews’ matter will be called again tomorrow.
