$5 million drug haul lands four in court

Four men, two Barbadians and two Venezuelans, were remanded to Dodds today in connection with the seizure of some $5 million worth of marijuana.

Barbadians Michael Emmanuel Yarde, 46, of Drax Hall Jump, St George and Kimeon O’Bryan Dacosta Wallace, 31, of Lower Estate, St George are jointly charged with non-nationals Richard Jose Gonzalez Guitierrez, a 29-year-old gas engineer and 53-year-old shop vendor Alexander Landaeta Vazquez, both of San Cristobal Estado, Tuchira, Venezuela.

The four are accused of having possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of just over 1 000 pounds of cannabis on October 12 within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

They were not required to plead to the indictable charges before the Magistrates’ Court.

Sergeant Victoria Taitt put forward objections to bail.

Yarde was represented by attorney-at-law Arthur Holder, while Wallace had defence counsel Neville Reid. The Venezuelans were represented by the law chamber of Michael Lashley Q.C.

The attorneys all asked for the pre-trial disclosure for the men to be made available “with alacrity”.

The men, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, will reappear before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on November 15.