43 months jail, $5.1M fine for man busted with ganja

More than a year after he was charged in relation to a drug bust at the New Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Rayanthony Persaud was on Friday sentenced to 43 months imprisonment and fined $5.1M.

The sentence was handed down after Persaud, also known as ‘Tony’, of Victoria Avenue, Eccles, was found guilty of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Persaud was on trial before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court.

He was among three men who were arrested by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) following the discovery of almost 13 pounds of marijuana on March 22, 2022.

CANU had said it received information and carried out an operation in the area which led to the discovery of six parcels of cannabis.

However, only Persaud and Andrew Carew known as ‘Daddo’ were charged.

Carew pleaded guilty to the charge in September 2022 and was sentenced to 50 months imprisonment and fined $5.1 million.