Cannabis trafficking trial underway

A jury of seven women, two men and three alternates began hearing evidence as a trial began in the No. 5 Supreme Court on Wednesday of a man accused of importing and trafficking cannabis more than five years ago.

 

Venice Keith McKenzie Stephen, of Sealy Land, Government Hill, pleaded not guilty to having, trafficking and importing 15.5 kilogrammes of cannabis on July 15, 2020.

 

Senior State Counsel Kevin Forde, who is prosecuting the case, began by stating that under Section 6.1 of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, it is unlawful for a person to have a controlled drug in his possession.

 

In his opening statement to the jury, he said: “There are two elements to possession – physical and mental. The physical element involves proof that the thing is in the custody of the defendant or is subject to his control, and if a person orders a controlled drug and directs it to be sent to his address, he is in possession of that drug from the time it arrives. 

 

“It is the State’s case that the accused man imported the narcotics into Barbados and came into possession of those narcotics when he received them, and he did certain things which the State intends to prove later on that he received these drugs.”

 

Presenting the State’s case further, Forde said that a customs officer was on duty at EHS Freightline Limited when the accused appeared at the shed, presented his identification card, and gave his name and address. A barrel bearing the name Williams Phillips with a Canadian address, consigned to the accused, was presented to him. 

 

The accused was invited to open the barrel, and the customs officer conducted a search in his presence, during which 40 packages of cannabis were found, the prosecutor said. Police were contacted, and Stephen was arrested and charged.

 

Nine witnesses are expected to give evidence in the trial that continues on Thursday before Justice Pamela Beckles while defence counsel Sade Harris represents the accused.