Two men accused of trafficking nearly 47 pounds of cannabis were remanded to prison after appearing before the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court, where bail was refused on the grounds of the seriousness of the allegation and one accused’s prior drug-related conviction.
The accused are 42-year-old Pramal Madray, called “Gaza,” a minibus driver of Lot 365 Experiment Bath, West Coast Berbice, and 30-year-old Ganish Persaud, a labourer of Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara.
The duo appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias, where they pleaded not guilty to the joint charge which alleges that on June 28, 2026, at Weldaad Village, West Coast Berbice, they were found in possession of 21.30 kilograms of cannabis.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards strongly opposed the granting of bail, citing the serious nature of the offence. He further informed the court that Madray is alleged to have paid Persaud $4,000 to help move the suspected cannabis. He also highlighted that Madray is a repeat offender with a prior conviction for a similar drug-related offence.
Meanwhile, Attorney-at-law Darren Wade, representing Madray, appealed for bail, arguing that the prosecution was placing heavy reliance on his client’s past conviction. He further contended that the drugs were allegedly found in Persaud’s possession and noted that the vehicle was occupied by more than one person at the time of the search.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Matthias refused bail and ordered that the men be remanded to prison until July 17, 2026.
The matter was also transferred to the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court for report.
The matter stems from a police stop-and-search exercise conducted around 7:00 hours on June 28 along the Weldaad Public Road.
Police said ranks intercepted a pink and blue Pit Bull minibus bearing registration number BAJ 5347, heading east. The driver, identified as Madray, and his lone passenger, Persaud, reportedly exited the vehicle and co-operated with a search.
During the inspection, officers allegedly found two shopping bags and a black haversack on the rear passenger seat. A search of the bags reportedly uncovered 16 parcels wrapped in transparent plastic containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
The men were arrested, cautioned, and escorted along with the suspected narcotics and the minibus to Weldaad Police Station, where they were formally charged.
