A WEST Berbice labourer who was allegedly busted with cocaine in Mahdia was Thursday refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. Thirty-six-year-old Lloyd Monroe of Lot 3 Ross Village, West Coast Berbice, pleaded not guilty to the charge that said on Wednesday, March 26 at 111 Miles, Mahdia, he had in his possession 4 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to defence counsel Mr. Jerome Khan, his client went to the police station on March 25 to lodge a complaint about his missing cash. At the station an officer informed him that they would have to search his premises.
The police then went to his residential area, which is an open one without a fence. As a result of the search the cocaine was allegedly found but Monroe strongly denied any knowledge of the drug.
However, according to the prosecution on the day in question police went to the house where Monroe resides and carried out a search. The ranks took the substance from a small counter of the house where he is the sole occupant.
Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru opposed bail on the grounds that no special reason was advanced by the defence.
The prosecution’s objection was upheld and the matter was transferred to Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for April 28.