Soufriere drug raid, 5 arrested

An early morning raid of the Soufriere Hills by police last Sunday, January 25th, resulted in five men being arrested and a large quantity of marijuana, a firearm and two rounds of 30.30 ammunition being seized.{{more}}

When the men appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Daniel Quashie 49, a mason of Chateaubelair, pleaded guilty to the cultivation of 50 mature cannabis plants, and was fined $500 or in default will spend two years in prison.

Raffique Charles, a 31-year-old labourer of Spring Village pleaded guilty to having in his possession 96,248 grammes (212 lbs) of cannabis with intent to supply. He was ordered to pay $25,000 forthwith or will spend two years in prison.

Shamal Jackson, 26, a labourer of Mesopotamia pleaded guilty to gun and ammunition charges. He will spend three years in prison with a one year suspended sentence activated.

Calbert Hackshaw, a 33-year-old mechanic of Enhams and 18-year-old Roger Clemens of Trinidad pleaded not guilty, and had the charges against them withdrawn.

Sunday’s raid was carried out by members of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) based at the Chateaubelair police station and Special Services Unit (SSU).

For the past three months, police have been carrying out a sustained ganja eradication programme in the North Leeward area of the country, from the Rose Hall mountains to the Sharpes Mountains to Larikai, Morne Round and Soufriere, resulting in many arrests. (AC)