Truck driver James Baptiste, who was caught by police over 12 years ago with a crocus bag containing 25 kilogrammes of marijuana, was remanded into custody yesterday after he pleaded guilty.
Baptiste, 51, of Williamsville, is before Justice Hayden St Clair-Douglas in the San Fernando High Court charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
He was arrested and charged in 2004 after the drugs were found in his car at Bonne Aventure Road, Gasparillo.
State attorney Brandon Sookoo said PC Michael Seales, now inspector and head of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, was driving an unmarked police vehicle accompanied by other officers when they received a wireless transmission.
A white Royal Saloon, driven by Baptiste, then overtook the police vehicle but was subsequently intercepted.
When the police searched the car they found a crocus bag containing 24 red taped packages of marijuana on the floor of the front passenger seat.
Baptiste told the police: “Boss a man paid me $200 to collect that green for him.”
The packets of marijuana were counted in court and tendered into evidence. Baptiste’s attorney Subhas Panday is expected to give his mitigation plea on Monday.
Baptiste, who was out on $150,000 bail, was remanded into custody pending sentencing.
The judge ordered the drugs be destroyed. He also dismissed a jury which was empanelled on July 18 but heard no evidence in the matter because Baptiste opted to plead guilty.