A 43-year-old St Helena man has been sentenced to two years with hard labour for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
David Neeranjan was found guilty on Monday after a year-long trial before Magistrate Darmanie at the Tunapuna Magistrates' Court.
The drugs had an estimated street value of $500,000.
The prosecution led evidence that on Wednesday 21st March 2018, officers of the Praedial Larceny Squad led by Corporal Jeffers and including PC Toussaint and WPC Simon, were on mobile patrol along Freeman Road St. Augustine when at around 8:40 pm, they observed Neeranjan seated in a blue Hyundai vehicle and speaking to a man on the side of the road.
As the officers approached, the man ran off and Neeranjan attempted to drive away.
However, officers blocked his exit and alighted their vehicle.
Upon searching Neeranjan's vehicle, the officers found the drugs and immediately arrested him.
He was taken to the St Joseph police station where he was charged by PC Toussaint.