MASSIAH Durant was, on Monday, sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment for trafficking $79 million worth of cannabis, while his two co-accused were each released on $2M bail.
Durant, 50 along with Shawn Lindie Snr, 44, and his 29-year-old son, Shawn Lindie Jnr. appeared before Magistrate Wonda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.
The men were jointly charged for having 1,580 pounds (717 kilograms) of cannabis in their possession for the purpose of trafficking, on March 26, at De Veldt, Upper Berbice River.
Durant pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 months imprisonment together with a fine of $251,100,000.
Both father and son pleaded not guilty to the charge and were each released on $2M bail. They will return to court on May 20.
Durant was represented by attorney-at-law Keoma Griffith, while his co-accused were represented by attorney Siand Dhurjon.
According to reports, the men were nabbed during a special operation carried out by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) and officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard.
During the operation, officers searched a building that was occupied by several individuals including miners and discovered several parcels of suspected cannabis.
The three men were arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters with the suspected narcotics, which tested positive for cannabis with a street value of over G$79 million.
According to CANU, the cannabis seized is believed to have been intended for transshipment to another territory.
