New Amsterdam miner on drug trafficking charge after search of house

A miner was remanded to prison on Friday after he was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking following a drug bust at his home.

Rayon Joseph, of New Amsterdam, Berbice was allegedly found with 680 grammes of cannabis in his possession at his home. The discovery was made on July 15, 2013, after lawmen acted on information received.

It is alleged that a party of police went to the home of Joseph and found a bulky black plastic bag under the bed. When they asked about their discovery, Joseph allegedly told the police “officer meh bring out de weed from de gold bush to smoke.” As a result, he was cautioned, arrested and taken to the Central Police Station, where the substance was weighed in his presence.

Joseph’s attorney Carolyn Artiga sought reasonable bail for him. She disputed the police’s claim that Joseph lived at the Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue address where the drug was found, explaining that he lives at Penitentiary Walk in New Amsterdam.

Artiga also said that at the premises where the illegal substance was found, there were four occupants but no one else was arrested for the offence.

The lawyer added that it was the first time Joseph was charged and she said if bail was granted he would not be a flight risk.

However, Police Prosecutor Corporal Raquel Mars told the court that the police’s facts are different, while adding that there was no special reason advanced for bail to be granted.

Bail was refused and Joseph is to return to court on August 12 for report and fixture in the case.