Miner remanded over Bartica ganja find

A miner was yesterday remanded to prison on a charge that he had just over three pounds of cannabis in his possession.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown was Sherwin Hinds, who was charged with having in his possession 1.394 kilogrammes of cannabis (equivalent 3.07 pounds) for the purpose of trafficking on April 24, at Bartica.

A not guilty plea was entered by Hinds.

Sherwin Hinds
Sherwin Hinds

According to his attorney, Peter Hugh, the cannabis was found in a bag in a boat that arrived from Parika. He added that his client never claimed ownership of the bag or its contents.

He further stated that the possibility existed that the bag could have been left by any of the other occupants that entered the boat on that particular day.

However, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that police, acting on information, saw Hinds with the bag. Hinds, he stated, was later taken to the Bartica Police Station, where the bag was searched in his presence and the narcotics were found.

Hinds was remanded to prison by the Magistrate and will appear next at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on May 20, when the matter will be heard again.