The two men busted at a hotel with a quantity of cocaine pellets last Friday were yesterday refused bail after being charged with conspiracy to traffic the drugs.
Dwayne Adams, 38, a carpenter, and Herbert Smith, 44, a taxi driver, both pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on November 13th, at the Alpha International Hotel, Ogle, they conspired with each other to traffic 848 grammes of cocaine.
Representing both men was attorney Peter Hugh, who made an application for reasonable bail to be granted. Hugh stated that he was compelled to make the application based on the fact that the men were charged with conspiracy rather than trafficking of a narcotic.
Additionally, Hugh stated that because his clients were charged under the wrong section of the anti-narcotics Act, the prosecution will have a hard time proving that both men had knowledge of each other’s actions.
Hugh further explained that Adams had taken full responsibility for the drugs while denying that Smith had any part to play.
This, he said, was formally acknowledged in his caution statement to the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit officers who made the bust.
Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru stated that based on advice received from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the men were charged with conspiracy to traffic rather than trafficking of narcotics. Mangru also noted that Adams had reportedly confessed to swallowing 25 pellets containing cocaine but has since excreted them.
He objected to bail while contending that insufficient reasons were given by Hugh for the men to be granted their pre-trial liberty.
Presiding Magistrate Judy Latchman refused bail and both men are expected to make their next court appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on December 7th, in Georgetown.
