Man fined $7000 for illegally possessing 34 pounds of ‘Weed’

A Buddy Gutter/Lowmans Bay man was fined $7000 for illegally possessing several packages of cannabis at his home.

Ashley Noel, 30, appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate Colin John yesterday, January, 30, 2025, where he was fined for having in his possession a 15,439 grammes of Cannabis with intent to supply it to another on January 28, 2025.

On the date in question at about 4:00 p.m, PC 114 Browne was among a party of police officers conducting an operation on several homes in the Buddy Gutter area. Upon arrival at a house, PC 114 Browne looked around the premises using his flash light and saw that there were several cannabis plants at the back of the premises.

He proceeded to the downstairs of the house where a strong odour of cannabis emanated. The police officer began a search and saw several packages of cannabis at different places in the house. He also saw a large cardboard box in the living room containing several transparent, wrapped packages containing plant materials resembling that of cannabis.

He then proceeded to the bedroom and searched under the bed mattress where he found one white envelope containing 51 $20 bills, 18 $10 bills and 45 $5 bills. The money was seized. When investigations were carried out into the matter, PC 114 Browne met Ashley Noel at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Browne informed him about the report he was investigating and cautioned him, and he said “Officer the drugs is mine, me nah have nothing else to say”.

When the drugs were weighed, it amounted to 15,439 grammes. Noel was subsequently charged for the offence of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply it to another. Defense lawyer, Grant Connell told the court that Noel is a farmer with no children. He had no previous convictions and was extremely remorseful for his actions.

He said that when the box was taken into court on January 29, the scent was “all over”, now there is no scent.

“A box of cannabis full of cockroaches has no value your honour,” Connell told the court, adding that the plants cannot even be used to light fire. He said as well that the “old” weed has no value because it has no market.

Prosecutor Renwick Cato said that some of the cannabis was wrapped and ready for sale so there was an expectation of financial gain. The senior magistrate was of the same view. He fined Noel $7,000 to be paid in six months in default of which he will serve a nine month prison sentence. John also ordered that the cannabis be destroyed.