Two men from West Berbice were remanded to prison on Wednesday following their arrest in connection with a significant marijuana bust at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara.
Dantel Fraser, a 22-year-old taxi driver of Paradise, West Coast Berbice, and Samuel Coates, a 34-year-old construction worker of Number 9 Village, West Coast Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Orinthia Schmidt at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court. The men were jointly charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking after police discovered over four kilograms of marijuana in their vehicle.
The arrests stemmed from an intelligence-led operation conducted by ranks from the Cove and John Police Station on Monday, May 26. Acting on information received, police intercepted a black Fielder wagon parked on the southern side of the Cove and John public road. During a search of the vehicle’s trunk, officers found a black plastic bag containing three large parcels of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis. The narcotics were later weighed and confirmed to be 4,040 grams—equivalent to nearly nine pounds.
Both Fraser and Coates pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, bail was denied, and the men were remanded to prison. The matter has been adjourned to June 18, 2025, when the case will be called again.
This latest bust comes amid ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb the trafficking of illegal drugs along the country’s major roadways. The police have reiterated their commitment to targeting drug networks and urged the public to continue providing information that could lead to further arrests and seizures.
