A 45-year-old man who pleaded guilty this morning to a Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Trafficking charge at the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court was fined $35,000.
Richard Phillip, of Paria Main Road, Grande Riviere Village, was also given 12 months to pay the fine or in default serve three years hard labour.
The accused was charged on June 3rd by PC Singh, of the Eastern Divisional Gang and Intelligence Unit (EDGIU), following a surveillance exercise into the illicit narcotic trade in the Toco district.
According to police reports, at 11 am last Saturday, EDGIU started the operation during which they monitored the driver of a black hatchback Toyota Yitz in the Grande Riviere area.
The vehicle then left that district and began heading south along the Toco Main Road and continued into the Sangre Grande Police District.
Following further intelligence gathering, at 2.30 pm, EDGIU officers intercepted the vehicle where a search led to the discovery of three bails of marijuana wrapped in clear plastic weighing 1.6 kilogrammes.
The narcotics have an estimated street value of $24,000.
The suspect was later arrested and he and the items were taken to the Sangre Grande Police Station where investigations culminated in the charge being laid against him.