$61M for ganja trafficking
$61M for ganja trafficking
MAGISTRATE Rhondell Weaver on Tuesday sent a strong signal to drug traffickers by imposing a multi-million-dollar fine on Puran Persaud, called ‘Andy’, who was found guilty of trafficking 92 lbs of cannabis sativa.
Sergeant Racquel Mars had submitted that the defendant must be called to lead his defence, as his caution statement, which was deemed admissible by the court, had indicated that he had knowledge of the crime.
Attorney Mursalene Bacchus had earlier made a no-case submission, but this was overruled by the court.
Inspector Grace Bristol and Sergeant Althea Soloman, prosecuting for the police, had led evidence which revealed that the taxi driver had in his possession 92 lbs of ganja for the purpose of trafficking.
Puran Persaud, 32, of Lot 62 Rosignol, West Coast Berbice, was intercepted at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice on January 26 with 25 parcels containing the illegal substance. Questioned about the multi-coloured bag containing the illegal substance, he had told police that it was owned by a fisherman from Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice.
In handing down sentence at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Weaver said she was sending a strong signal to those with similar intent, thus she was imposing a fine that was three times the street value of the narcotics.
Initially, Puran was jointly charged with Liana Ramsundar and Puran Ramoo, but the case against those two was dismissed.