FORMER Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Private Collis Beckles who was charged with trafficking in excess of four pounds of marijuana during a stop-and-search exercise by police in the vicinity of the Berbice River Bridge on January 5 has been fined $2million and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

The hefty fine and the sentence were handed down by Senior Magistrate Alex Moore, when Beckles appeared in the New Amsterdam Court.
Magistrate Moore also indicated to Beckles that his failure to pay the fine will result in him serving an additional two years in jail.

On January 5 around 21:30hrs, Beckles of Lot 70 Barnwell North, Mocha, East Bank Demerara, was a passenger in hire car HC 5799 travelling the Georgetown to New Amsterdam route when it was stopped at a police roadblock, in the vicinity of the Berbice River Bridge.

The driver, along with the other occupants and the car was searched. It was during the examination, that the suspected trafficker claimed ownership of the grey and black haversack in which was the defendant’s identification card, a pair of black Timberland slippers, a green sheet and two black plastic bags were seen with seeds, leaves and stems, suspected to be cannabis sativa. The narcotic weighed 2137grams or four pounds, 11 ounces.

Under caution, Beckles said, “Somebody gives me the weed to drop in NA.”
However, he submitted a written statement, in which he revealed that one Denheart, who is an ex-soldier living in New Amsterdam, had called him via cellular phone and requested that he collect a parcel from his brother in front of KFC Stabroek Market and deliver same to him in New Amsterdam.

Beckles had opened the bag, pinched and observed the illegal drug. However, he denied knowing the amount.
Police Prosecutor Corporal Winston Poliah had argued that the defendant had knowledge, possession and control of the illegal drug and should be found guilty and face the penalty according to the Narcotics Act.