A 27-year-old Zeelugt Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo man was, on Monday, remanded to prison for allegedly trafficking five pounds of cannabis.

Akeem Archer, a father of four, appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that, on March 16, at Lombard Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Archer had 2.33 kilograms of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The unrepresented man told the court that he is the sole breadwinner for his family and his wife is currently pregnant. Archer also told the court that, in 2018, he was sentenced to serve two years in prison for firearm possession.

Given the seriousness and prevalence of the crime, the Magistrate remanded Archer to prison until April 24.

According to a release from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Archer was nabbed by ranks during an operation in the vicinity of Lombard Street.

He was seen acting in a suspicious manner while carrying a backpack. A subsequent search of the bag led to the discovery of a parcel containing what looked like cannabis.

Archer was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters, along with the suspected narcotic, which tested positive for cannabis, and weighed approximately five pounds (2.33 kg), with a street value of approximately $400,000.