CHAIRMAN of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton, has urged the public to allow the law to take its course in the case involving former APNU+AFC Parliamentarian Devin Sears, who was recently remanded for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Norton, who is often vocal on issues of crime and corruption, made the appeal during a virtual press conference on Friday, when he cautioned against rushing to judgment.

“All I would say here is that, like every human being in this society, you should be presumed innocent until he’s proven guilty…We are saying the same thing when it comes to other crimes committed in society, that we seem to just want to make Devin Sears guilty.

“I hold no brief for him, but all I would say to you, he should be assumed innocent until proven guilty, and that should apply across the board,” Norton told reporters during a press conference on Friday.

Devin Sears was on Thursday remanded to prison after appearing before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Linden Magistrates’ Court, charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Sears, 39, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded until November 11, 2025, for report and disclosure.

His co-defendant, Albert Sandy, a 69-year-old farmer of Tacama Waterfront, Upper Berbice River, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

Sandy took full responsibility for the 310.71 kilogrammes of marijuana found in the vehicle, but despite his admission, Magistrate Liverpool nonetheless remanded Sears pending further proceedings.

Sears is being represented by Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes and Bernard Da Silva.

The charges stem from a major drug ‘bust’ that occurred on Monday, October 20, in the vicinity of the old Bamia Police Checkpoint in Linden.

The police on mobile patrol stopped a dark blue Toyota Hiace minibus bearing registration number BAJ 4486, which is registered to the Region 10 Tourism Committee Inc.

According to the police report, Sears, who was driving the vehicle, began acting suspiciously and started “sweating profusely.”

When questioned, he allegedly told the officers he was transporting “tourism plants.”

A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered 22 bulky black plastic bags and four large brown canvas bags containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The narcotics, when weighed, amounted to 310.71 kilogrammes. Both men were arrested and cautioned. The police said Sandy admitted that the drugs belonged to him and that he had paid Sears to transport him to Parika.

Following the incident, Sears, who also served as an educator and political activist, tendered his resignation to the Region 10 Tourism Committee.

In a statement, the committee distanced itself from his alleged actions, noting that they were “personal and unrelated to the organisation’s mission of promoting eco-tourism and regional development.”

Meanwhile, the Alliance For Change (AFC) said it would allow the judicial process to take its course, reiterating that all persons are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

The party further highlighted its commitment to integrity, accountability, and lawful conduct among its members.