Police in Regional Division Two have apprehended three men following the discovery of a significant quantity of cocaine during a stop-and-search operation on the Suddie Public Road on Thursday around 17:05 hours. Officers from the Suddie Police Station were conducting routine checks when they stopped a white Toyota Fielder Wagon, registration number HD 2872.
The vehicle was driven by a 29-year-old hire car driver from Spring Garden, Essequibo Coast. He was accompanied by a 45-year-old mason from Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), in the front passenger seat, and a 34-year-old fisherman from Good Hope, ECD, who was seated in the back seat with a multi-coloured haversack beside him.
During the stop-and-search, all occupants were instructed to exit the vehicle for inspections. In the presence of the suspects and police ranks, a search of the multi-coloured haversack revealed two black plastic bags containing multiple pieces of a whitish, rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine. The fisherman allegedly admitted ownership of the cocaine when informed by the police.
The three men were arrested and taken to the Suddie Police Station, where the cocaine was weighed in their presence, totaling 1,539 grams (approximately 3.397 pounds).
Following the incident, on Friday, Kevin Cumberbatch, of Good Hope, ECD, was charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, in violation of Section 5 (1) (a) (i) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Chapter 10:10. He appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor objected to bail, leading to Cumberbatch being remanded to prison. The case is scheduled to continue on February 26.
