Two men were remanded to prison on Monday after appearing before the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court on a drug trafficking charge following the discovery of more than 45 pounds of marijuana during a police operation at Weldaad Village, West Coast Berbice.
Antonio Peters, a 21-year-old construction worker of Lot 35 Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, and Delvin Semple, a 28-year-old taxi driver of Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, both denied the allegation when they appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias.
The charge alleges that on April 23, 2026, the two men had 2,600 grams of cannabis in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards objected to bail, arguing that the men were the only occupants of the vehicle in which the narcotics were found. He also described them as flight risks, while claiming that Semple had provided an incorrect address. The prosecutor further told the court that there is video evidence in which the men allegedly admitted to the offence.
Attorney-at-law Horatio Edmondson, who represented Peters, indicated that a bail application would be made at a later date. He also questioned whether the substance had been scientifically confirmed as cannabis and whether it had been sent for testing.
In refusing bail, Magistrate Matthias cited the seriousness of the offence. Both men were remanded to prison, and the matter was transferred to the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court, where it will continue on May 8.
According to police, the men were arrested on Thursday, April 23, at about 3:40 p.m. during a stop-and-search exercise along Weldaad Public Road.
Police said officers intercepted a white Toyota Fielder wagon carrying two male occupants and, during a search of the vehicle and its occupants, discovered four large parcels wrapped in transparent plastic. The parcels, which contained leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, were reportedly found in two multi-coloured shopping bags in the trunk of the car.
Semple, who was driving the vehicle, and Peters, the passenger, were both taken into custody and escorted to the Weldaad Police Station.
There, the suspected narcotics were weighed in their presence and amounted to 45.4 pounds before being lodged.
