Shop owner on drug trafficking charge after selling cocaine to cop – court hears

A mother of three was refused bail when she appeared in a Georgetown court yesterday to answer to a charge of trafficking in narcotics after being arrested for allegedly selling cocaine to a policeman.

Lovern Bamfield, 29, of 490 North East La Penitence, told Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1 that she was not guilty after the charge was read to her.

The charge stated that Primo trafficked in narcotics on April 24, at Lot 1 North Road, Bourda. She allegedly soldPolice Constable 22047 Forde a fifth of a gramme of cocaine.

Lovern Bamfield
Lovern Bamfield

Prosecutor Bharat Mangru informed the court that the defendant has a shop at Bourda where she sells snacks.

On the day in question, at about 5 pm, police ranks from the Narcotics Branch, acting on information, went to Bamfield’s shop.

The prosecutor said that an undercover officer then bought the drug from the woman.

In addition, Mangru told the court that Bamfield admitted to selling drugs. “If he had buy $500, I will not give he four piece, because is five piece I does sell for $1,000,” Mangru reported the woman as saying.

However, Bamfield’s attorney requested bail for her while he argued that she is innocent of the charge. He contended that Forde is known to many persons who dwell by the shop and he was never observed in the area at any time when police said she sold the drug to him.

Counsel further referred to the charge as “vindictive.” In seeking bail, he said Bamfield, an established businesswoman, does not pose a risk of flight.

However, bail was refused and the matter was transferred to Court 2 for May 7.