By Tahna Weston
Okive Banton of Golden Grove New Extension was remanded to His Majesty’s Prison after pleading guilty to drug charges when he appeared in the District B court.
Banton was charged with possession of 1.25 pounds of cannabis with intent to sell and possession of cannabis.
He was taken into custody on January 10 after the drugs were found on a property next to a business he owned.
A about 5:50 pm on the day in question, officers executed a search warrant at Straight Pub, the business operated by the accused.
Nothing was discovered during the search; however a quantity of US and EC currency was found in Banton’s left pants pocket.
Officers returned to the area about 6:20 pm, and visited the home of Delroy Basksom, which is next door to Straight Pub.
While searching the property, they realised there was a strong odour of cannabis coming from the western side of the house.
They checked the area and while searching underneath the home, the side which was facing the business, they found one red and two black shopping bags on a ledge, which contained 269 small Ziploc bags and four vacuum sealed bags with the illegal substance.
After Basksom denied knowledge of the drugs, Banton was taken to the scene and he admitted that the substance belonged to him and that the “old man don’t know nothing about that”.
He was reminded that it is illegal to have more than 15 grammes of cannabis in his possession and he, along with Basksom, was arrested and taken into custody.
The police also advised him that they suspected the money he had on him was obtained through the sale of cannabis and therefore they seized the cash, which amounted to $2,160 and US $420.
Further investigations were conducted and Banton was arrested and charged. He will be sentenced on Thursday, January 16.
He was represented by attorney Michael Archibald.