A 22-year-old gold miner, who was allegedly found with 149 grammes of marijuana, was remanded to prison Thursday on a drug trafficking charge.

Abdool Salim appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and denied that on January 24, 2017 at 70 Km Barama Road, Essequibo he had in his possession 149 grammes of cannabis with the intention of trafficking.

The court heard that on the day in question, Salim was arrested by police during a ‘stop and search’ routine at the 70 Km Barama police outpost. Salim was reportedly heading into the interior when he was nabbed with the cannabis concealed in a black plastic bag he was carrying in his haversack.

The defendant had told the police ranks that he had brought the drugs for his personal use from Kato Village and was taking it to Sulphur Backdam. Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded Salim to prison and the case was adjourned until February 9, 201 7, when it will be called again at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.