A Barbadian was this morning sentenced to three years behind bars and fined $51,934,500 after pleading guilty to trafficking 152lbs of marijuana.
Fifty-one-year-old Michael Forde of 29 Lukes Avenue, Dayville, St. Michaels, Barbados, was sentenced by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Forde was jointly charged with Hardat Monilall, 48, of 212 Charlotte Street, Bourda, Georgetown and Trevor Robinson, 67, of 1st Avenue Thorpes, St. James Barbados.
It is alleged that the trio on October 7, 2020, at Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) wharf, Lombard Street Georgetown, trafficked 62.2kg of narcotics.
Meanwhile, 39-year-old Randy Welch of 856 Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, was charged for aiding Forde, Monilall, and Robinson to trafficked marijuana.
The matters against them were all withdrawn by CANU Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, following Forde’s guilty plea.
The marijuana was discovered yesterday by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks onboard a Barbados registered vessel at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) wharf, Lombard Street Georgetown.
It was reported that the vessel marked “CV1 Barbados” laden with perishable goods (vegetables inclusive of plantains, coconut, pumpkins) and other goods was searched twice this week as part of an ongoing operation.
The vessel was first searched on Tuesday, 6th October 2020, and then on Wednesday, 7th October 2020. Seventy-one parcels of suspected marijuana were uncovered concealed in a section of the vessel. The vessel is believed to have been in Guyana for several weeks and had undergone repairs whilst docked here.
