A 26-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined $2.3 million while his co-accused was released on $150,000 bail after they were charged in relation to the discovery of $1.5m in cocaine at Norton Street, Georgetown earlier this week.
Akeem Lashley of ‘B’ Field, Sophia and Andre Clarke of Lot 2 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
The charge stated that on August 8 at Norton Street, Georgetown, they had in their possession 1.5 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Lashley who pleaded guilty to the offence told the court “everything is me own. I does do drugs”.
Meanwhile, Clarke, denied the allegation. He was represented by attorney, Adrian Thompson who made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum in light of his client’s condition.
Clarke is confined to a wheelchair. He is paralyzed.
The matter was adjourned to September 5.
Lashley and Clarke were among five person who were arrested by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) after a search conducted at Clarke’s Norton Street, Georgetown residence unearthed four parcels of a substance believed to be cocaine.
The substance tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately 1.5 kilogrammes, and has an estimated street value of $1.5 million.
The three other persons; police sergeant, Dion Bascom, 33; Rodwell George, 54 and Serena Mentus, 19 were not charged.
Clarke is known to law enforcement officials. Back in 2011, he was charged with narcotics trafficking after CANU ranks conducted a search at his home and found 590 grammes of cocaine buried in his yard.
Based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the matter was dismissed but Clarke remained a person of interest.
