Court Orders Forfeiture of Cash Seized in Drug Operation to State

A local pub owner named Okive Banton found himself in legal trouble after being charged with drug possession.

During a court hearing with Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel, Banton admitted to possessing a significant amount of cannabis, which led to his conviction.

The police had seized EC $2,160 and US $420 from him, which was ordered to be forfeited to the authorities.

Banton was charged with having 1.25 pounds of cannabis with the intent to sell, alongside a lesser charge of simple possession.

While he received a reprimand for the possession charge, he was slapped with a hefty fine of $40,000 for the more serious accusation. The magistrate made it clear that if Banton failed to pay the fine within two years, he would face a two-year prison sentence.

The timeline of events began on January 10, when police executed search warrants at Straight Pub, Banton’s establishment, and a nearby property belonging to Delroy Basksom.

Initially, no illicit items were found at the pub itself, but police discovered a sum of money in Banton’s pants pocket.

Later that day, after returning to the area around 6:20 PM to search Basksom’s residence, officers detected a strong smell of cannabis nearby.

Upon further investigation, they discovered red and black shopping bags containing multiple Ziploc bags and vacuum-sealed bags filled with marijuana hidden beneath the house.

Basksom denied any knowledge of the drugs when questioned, but Banton quickly admitted their ownership, claiming that Basksom was uninvolved. Both men were subsequently arrested.

The police suspected that the cash on Banton was tied to drug sales, prompting them to seize the money. Banton was represented by lawyer Michael Archibald during the proceedings. The magistrate also ordered the destruction of the seized drugs.