Venezuelan jailed, others freed

By: Deneita Fredericks
THREE men were on Tuesday hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates Court, after being held in a drug “bust” at the Nova Hotel, last Saturday.

The men are Ganesh Das, a 26-year-old of Affiance, Essequibo Coast, Evel Boodhoo and Richie Boodhoo. Das, who is employed as a boat operator, pleaded guilty,to being in possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking; the two others pleaded not guilty to the charge. The charge read that on March 9, 2019, at Nova Hotel, Cummings Street, Georgetown, a quantity of narcotics weighing 6.150 kilogrammes or 13 pounds were found.
Due to the first defendant’s guilty plea, the other two were freed of their charges.

Das was represented by Attorney-at- Law Keoma Griffith, who, in a plea of mitigation, asked the court to impose a reasonable sentence and fine on his client; this, he said, is because of the state his (Das’) homeland (Venezuela) is in and the hardship which led him to commit such an act.

He also noted that the defendant had cooperated fully with the police from the beginning and admitted full ownership of the drugs found; hence, his plea for leniency.
According to CANU prosecutor Konye Sandiford, on the day in question, CANU officers acted upon information and went to the hotel, where they conducted a search in the presence of the five suspects.

A white salt bag was then recovered with suspected cannabis in 10 parcels. When weighed, the street value of the drugs was assessed to be $G7,306,200. Das was taken into custody and gave both oral and written statements on how the narcotics got there.

In tears, Das told the court that he was sorry for his actions and he only took a chance because of the hardship he was facing.
He was sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined $G7.3 million dollars.