Venezuelans get 15 years for ganja

FIVE VENEZUELANS caught three years ago smuggling over 1,500 pounds of marijuana through the Mosquito Creek in South Oropouche were jailed for 15 years each yesterday. Hamilton Guiterez, Miguel Alberto Pino, Jesus Inocente Hernandez, Amancio Angel Castillo Garcia, and Ismael Brito Pino, were jailed by San Fernando High Court Justice Malcolm Holdip presiding in the Fourth Criminal Court. Ismael Brito Pino, additionally charged with illegal posession of a Smith and Wesson pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition, was sentenced for six months. He will not spend extra jail time however, since his sentences were instructed to run concurrently. It was the second trial for the accused, since the previous jury in the trial before Justice Paula Mae Weeks last October were hung in reaching a verdict.

Yesterday Justice Holdip explained that the offence was aggravated by two aspects — the quantity of marijuana, and allegations that an arresting police officer had stolen $500 US from one of the accused. Justice Holdip said it was clear the 687.4 kilogrammes or 1,511 pounds of marijuana seized from the Venezuelan boat was intended for commercial transaction. “I am sending a message that there are serious penalties when indulging in this crime,” the judge declared. The case was prosecuted by State attorney Narissa Ramsundar, while the defence was led by attorneys Vernon De Lima, Joseph Pantor, Ian Gray, and Faraaz Mohammed. The five Venezuelans were arrested on May 30, 2000, by a team from Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU), led by Sargeant Edward Castillo. The foreigners were held during an OCNU stake-out operation in the creek where policemen took up strategic positions on the river banks, while a Coast Guard vessel waited in the Gulf of Paria near the Godineau Bridge. After an exchange of gunfire in the creek, police intercepted the foreign vessel and arrested the five Venezuelans on board, and seized over the load of marijuana. In mitigation for the accused, Pantor said the Venezuelans were employed as fishermen and were never previously convicted of a crime. He said the foreigners were remorseful for committing the offence, having spent three years in jail while awaiting trial.