THREE men were, on Tuesday, remanded to prison for allegedly trafficking $5 million worth of cannabis at Springlands Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

Stuart Hamer, a 64-year-old taxi driver of Number 77 Village Housing Scheme; Jeremiah Smith, 18, and Damion Hinds, 42, appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court.

The trio denied having 40 kilogrammes of cannabis on November 17.

Magistrate Moore remanded the men to prison until January 17, 2023, for report at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

According to a release from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), on the day in question, ranks were conducting an operation on the Springlands Public Road when they observed a “suspicious” silver-grey vehicle parked on the said road.

Several individuals within the vicinity were questioned, but no one claimed ownership or identified the driver of the said vehicle.

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed several parcels of suspected cannabis in two salt bags. The vehicle and the narcotics were escorted to CANU’s Office at Skeldon, Corentyne, Berbice.

The next day, Hamer went to the Springlands Police Station and claimed ownership of the vehicle.

He reportedly also stated that he was hired by the other two accused to transport the narcotics to Corentyne.

As a result, ranks from the Springlands Police Station arrested Smith and Hinds, who were then handed over to CANU ranks.

The suspected cannabis was weighed and tested in the presence of the three men. It tested positive for cannabis and weighed a total of 40 kilogrammes with a street value of approximately $5 million.