A 35-year-old resident of La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, is now in police custody after being caught with more than a pound of cannabis during a police operation on Wednesday.

The suspect, identified as Sayeed Salul of Gap Road, became the focus of law enforcement after officers detected a strong scent of marijuana emanating from a Toyota Fielder Wagon he was traveling in. The vehicle was stopped around 12:45 p.m. in front of the Den Amstel Police Station during a routine traffic exercise led by an Inspector.

Police instructed Salul and the driver to exit the vehicle before conducting a search. Officers reportedly found a bulky plastic bag containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis on Salul’s person. The investigation quickly escalated when police proceeded to search Salul’s residence at La Jalousie. There, they discovered several small ziplock bags filled with additional cannabis hidden in a chest of drawers.

When confronted with the evidence and informed of the offense, Salul allegedly responded under caution, “Sir, I does hustle da lil weed.” He was immediately arrested and escorted to the Leonora Police Station along with the suspected narcotics.

Police later confirmed that the cannabis found on Salul’s person weighed 30 grams, while the stash recovered from his home amounted to 482 grams, bringing the total haul to just over one pound.

Salul remains in custody as investigations continue, and he is expected to face charges related to possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. The incident highlights ongoing police efforts to curb the illegal drug trade along the West Coast Demerara.