Man nabbed with ganja in minibus gets bail

Twenty-six-year-old Earl Vanlewin, who was busted with over 6 kilograms of marijuana, was on Monday released on $320,000 bail.

Vanlewin, a miner of Moruca, Region 1, was hauled before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer in the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The charge against the miner is that on September 17, 2022, he had 6 kilograms of marijuana in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. He was released on bail, and the matter was fixed for October 17, 2022.

The Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) had stated that a Constable joined minibus BAC 4952 at Lovely Lass Village, West Coast Berbice, and was en route to work at the Mahaicony Police Station.

During the journey, the Police rank said he received “a high scent of marijuana,” which prompted him to communicate with another rank on duty at the Mahaicony Police Station.

At about 08:41h, the rank stopped the minibus on the Mahaicony Public Road and asked the passengers to take possession of their personal belongings.

Two travelling bags were left under the second to last seat in the minibus, and the driver had pointed out Vanlewin as the owner.

The rank took possession of the two bags and carried out a search, where four wrapped parcels were found containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The miner was told of the offence, arrested, and cautioned. He said he collected the two bags from a man in Rosignol, and he was taking the bags to another man in Georgetown.