Jairam Lallman of Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme, East Canje Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was sentenced to four years imprisonment and slapped with a G$27.6M fine for trafficking of 102 pounds of cannabis when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Lallman, 35, admitted that on December 2, 2019, at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, he had 46.59 kilograms of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
In a plea of mitigation, Lallman apologised for his actions and begged the court for leniency.
Based on reports received, at about 20:25h on the day in question, several ranks attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) swooped down on a car that originated from Berbice and found the illegal substance. The car was intercepted behind the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown.
According to the drug enforcement body, Lalman was transporting the cannabis from a location in his county to a “given” location in the capital city.
However, his vehicle was intercepted by the CANU ranks before he could make the drop-off.
When the car was searched by the CANU ranks, they discovered several parcels of the cannabis that had been wrapped in clear plastic and then covered with black plastic bags weighing over 102 pounds.
Lalman was immediately arrested and taken to the CANU headquarters for further grilling about the crime.
Meanwhile, as a result of the bust, three others were hauled in by CANU for questioning.
In June of this year, while giving an overview of last year’s performance of the Unit, CANU had reported that there was a vast increase in cannabis seized by CANU during 2018, with the spike seen mostly during the June to August period which coincides with the summer vacation.
According to statistics provided by the drug enforcement body, the unit had seized 171.58kg cocaine, 543.256kg cannabis, 532.8 grams ecstasy, 304 grams of heroin, and 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 39 grams of cannabis in 2018 against the 291.089kg cocaine, 123.799kg cannabis and 1.602kg of heroin seized in 2017.
The CANU had added that for this year, ranks had upped the ante in combatting the trafficking and sale of illicit substances in Guyana and that more and more operations were being done to nab the culprits who are engaged in the world of drugs.
