Four men in court for cocaine, marijuana

Four persons appeared yesterday before a Port-of-Spain magistrate charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, following a police exercise over the weekend which saw the seizure of $7 million worth of ganja. Appearing before Magistrate Andrew Stroude in the City’s Fourth Court were two Trinidadians, a Venezuelan and an American who were all arrested by officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU). All were arrested in separate incidents. Before the matters were called, Magistrate Stroude rose for a couple minutes indicating that he had to view the exhibits brought to court by the arresting officers. Several bags of marijuana, clearly too large in amount to be brought to the court room, were placed to the back of a police truck which was parked in front of the court on St Vincent Street.

The magistrate along with each of the accused, attorneys, court prosecutors and other court personnel all took the trip to basement of the Courthouse where the exhibits were examined by Magistrate Stroude. Following the viewing, the accused were brought back to the courtroom where their matters were called. First up was American Charles Morris, who indicated to the Magistrate he had not yet informed his relatives abroad of his arrest and he needed to contact them. Morris, even before the magistrate read the charge to him, maintained he was innocent and knew nothing about the bag containing the illegal substance shown in court. After reading the charges, Stroude told the accused, who was not represented, he could not consider granting him bail in the absence of a tracing. Police prosecutor, Cpl Winston Dillon told the court they had not heard from Interpol about Morris’ status and as a result, objected to bail. Morris was then remanded and his matter was transferred to the San Fernando Magistrate’s Court.

He will reappear on Thursday. A Penal farmer, also held by officers was denied bail. Nobert Chin Su of Penal Rock Road, Penal was held on Saturday at his home when the officers found in his possession, 68.12 kilos of marijuana. Also appearing before Magistrate Stroude were 27-year-old Miguel Rodriguez of Cumuto Road, Barrackpore and 37-year-old Victor Cortez of San Feliz, Venezuela. The two were arrested on Saturday by OCNU officers, who, after receiving information, held the men at Rodriguez’s home. The officers found 281.74 kilos of marijuana in the house. Attorney Phillips also appeared for the two accused. Phillips told the magistrate his client was not in possession of a passport. The magistrate, following the police prosecutor’s objection to bail, denied Cortez bail. Rodriguez, also a farmer, was granted bail in the sum of $1 million to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace. Both men had their matters transferred to the San Fernando Magistrate’s court and will reappear on Thursday.