A 25-year-old taxi driver from Bartica has been charged after police allegedly found a quantity of cocaine in his possession during an operation along the Potaro Road.
Police said the narcotics were discovered between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, at 2 Miles, Bartica, Essequibo River. Investigators said ranks were carrying out an operation in the area when they observed the suspect, identified as Reon Speede, called “Pooh,” driving a motor car.
According to police, the vehicle was stopped, but the driver exited and tried to run away. He was chased, caught, and taken to the Bartica Police Station.
A search was then conducted on his person, during which police said they found a small transparent bag containing 18 zip-lock bags with a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.
The substance was weighed in the suspect’s presence and amounted to 12.2 grams before being lodged. Speede, of Lot 807 Five Miles Housing Scheme, Bartica, was later charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking under Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Chapter 10:10.
He appeared on Monday before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him. Speede pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $200,000.
The matter was adjourned to July 2, 2026, for continuation.
