– for client busted $2.2M worth of ‘ganja’

SENIOR Magistrate Faith McGusty on Monday remanded a 38-year-old taxi driver to prison for trafficking 10 pounds of cannabis after he was busted by police at a roadblock.
Ben Cumberbatch, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleges that on December 13, 2018 at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara, he had 10 pounds of cannabis, valued some $2.2M, in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

His attorney, Melville Duke during an application for bail argued that the drug was not found in his client’s possession.

Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman, however, countered that since the drug was found in his motorcar, Cumberbatch was not eligible for bail.

According to reports, ranks on patrol on the day in question intercepted Cumberbatch’s motorcar at Little Diamond, and when a search was made of the trunk, what looked like cannabis was found in a spare tyre.

The magistrate, having ruled in the prosecution’s favour remanded Cumberbatch to prison until January 7, 2019, and transferred the matter to the matter Providence Magistrates’ Court.