Two Jamaicans have been nabbed at the Number 79 Foreshore in the Upper Corentyne, attempting to leave the country via ‘back track’ with 7.17kg of cannabis sativa.Benjamin Carrington, 29, of Lot 12 Papeen Campus, Kingston 12, and his travelling companion Dian Patterson, 22, of the same address, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at Springlands Court on Monday, where they pleaded not guilty to the charge of being in possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

They were refused bail and were remanded to the New Amsterdam Prison, where they will remain until May 30.
On May 12, at about 16:15hrs, a policeman was on duty at the Number 78 Foreshore conducting searches on passengers who had intended to travel to Suriname via the ’back track’ route when a black suitcase was presented by the male defendant Carrington. The suitcase was found to have a false bottom.

Further checks revealed six compacted, square-shaped, black-plastic-bagged parcels containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

Carrington and Patterson were escorted to Springlands Police Station, where the narcotic was weighed and sealed in their presence.

Patterson reportedly told investigators that she entered Guyana two days prior to the incident on an invitation of her lover. She claimed not to have been aware of his business dealing. However, she is concerned that her parents may not know of her whereabouts.