12 months hard labour for marijuana

He had 17 silver packets containing the drug, the court was told. The officers, at the time, were conducting a road block exercise in the area. He was one of two “priority offenders” appearing before a magistrate in the Couva court yesterday.

The other offender, also 23, who had in his possession 26 silver packets of marijuana was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison with hard labour. A 19 year-old first offender, who the court heard had one small packet of marijuana in his possession, was ordered by the magistrate to do community service. The exercise on Friday was led by Sgt Thompson of the Couva Police Station.