A 30-year-old West Bank Berbice farmer has been remanded to prison after appearing in court on a narcotics trafficking charge linked to the alleged discovery of 2.80 kilogrammes of cannabis in a minibus along the West Coast of Berbice.
Carlos Chung, of Lot 239 Ithaca Village, West Bank Berbice, and Lot 50 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, appeared before Magistrate Shivani Lalaram at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court, where he denied the allegation.
The court heard that on May 13, 2026, at Number Seven Public Road, West Coast Berbice, Chung allegedly had the cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Attorney-at-law Joel Edmond, representing Chung, told the court that the narcotics were discovered in the trunk of a public minibus carrying several passengers at the time of the search, arguing that more than seven persons were inside the vehicle.
Edmond said his client does not own a passport and would comply with any bail conditions imposed by the court. He also described the quantity of cannabis as relatively small and applied for reasonable bail.
However, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards objected to bail, stating that while the analysis certificate is still pending, the remainder of the investigation file has been completed.
Edwards told the court the bag containing the narcotics was identified as belonging to Chung. He also alleged that Chung provided investigators with video and audio recordings in which he claimed ownership of the bag and said he had collected the cannabis from a taxi driver in Rosignol for delivery to Georgetown.
The prosecutor further claimed that Chung initially gave police the name “Shamar Lindie” at the time of the discovery, a detail he said was corroborated by statements from other passengers in the minibus.
Concerns were also raised that Chung provided two different addresses, which the prosecution argued increased the risk of flight if bail were granted.
The court additionally heard that the minibus driver told investigators Chung boarded the vehicle already carrying the bag later found to contain the suspected cannabis.
In response, the defence challenged the prosecution’s account, arguing that the case remains incomplete without the analysis certificate and disputing the alleged confession, which it said required proper verification.
Counsel also questioned whether other passengers may have accessed the trunk prior to the search, arguing that liability could not automatically be attributed to the accused.
Magistrate Lalaram denied bail, citing the seriousness of the offence, and remanded Chung to prison.
The matter continues on June 3 at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.
