A fisherman and an offshore worker were granted bail totaling $1.6 million after they appeared in court charged with possession of 16 kilogrammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Ryan Bajan, 35, and Rakesh Ragbir, 31, were not called upon to plead to the charges, but the court was informed that Bajan wants to plead guilty.
The men, of Icacos Village, Cedros, appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court before Senior First Court Magistrate Alicia Chankar.
They were arrested on Monday night during an anti-crime exercise by officers of the Southern Division Task Force and San Fernando Criminal Investigations Department in the La Romaine.
According to an initial police report, the police stopped and searched a white pick-up van, with two men along the South Trunk Road near PriceSmart. The police allegedly found in a grey container filled with ice, two large packages wrapped in black and clear plastic, under the ice.
The packages contained 30 rectangular packages of marijuana. The estimated street value of the drugs is $162,000. They were charged by PC Markus Lange of the San Fernando CID.
Attorney Shalini Sankar, who together with Richard Isaac represented the accused, said Bajan wants to plead guilty but the necessary paperwork has to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Prosecutor Cleyon Seedan gave a description of the drugs to the court.
The magistrate said in considering bail she took into account the seriousness of the offence, the prevalence and quantum of drugs. She granted each of them $750,000 bail with the clerk of the peace approval. The matter was adjourned to March 27.