Three remanded for $600,000 in drugs

Three men were yesterday remanded in custody by Magistrate Melvin Daniel in the Port-of-Spain Four B Magistrates’ Court when they appeared before him charged with trafficking almost $600,000 worth of marijuana.

Officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU) allegedly held Anslem Phillip, 25, Frank Seebrath, 43, both of San Juan, and Floyd Brathwaite, 28, of Chaguanas, with 99.84 kilos of  marijuana at Igneri Road, Valsayn, on Tuesday at 3.30 pm. The officers reportedly found 83 packets of  compressed marijuana in two crocus bags and two garbage bags in a motor vehicle. The charges were laid indictably and they were not called upon to plead. A B-14 Sentra and $5,600 in cash were also seized.

Attorneys Kenneth Munroe-Brown and Clyde Constantine made bail applications for the accused stating that the prosecution had sufficient time to trace the defendants’ criminal records. However, police prosecutor Sgt Ian Raeburn said the tracing of the defendants was not completed and would be ready by today. Magistrate Daniel said he would transfer the matter to the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court but was interrupted by Constantine who suggested that he delay the transfer until today when the prosecution would receive the tracing. Constantine said the issue of bail could then be examined before the transfer to Tunapuna. The magistrate agreed stating he would transfer the matter to the Four A Court which deals with narcotics matters. He then remanded the men into custody to today pending tracing and for transfer to the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court.