Ganja found in boxes of food

A 21-year-old St Elizabeth resident who tried to ship ganja overseas in carton boxes containing assorted food items through the local post office and overseas couriers was remanded in custody yesterday when she made her first appearance in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Shanaya Stewart is charged with three counts of possession of ganja, three counts of dealing in ganja, three counts of attempting to export ganja and three counts of conspiracy to export ganja. Investigators allege that between May and July 2020, Stewart visited the head office of courier DHL in Kingston and the Black River Post Office in St Elizabeth, where she paid to ship a brown cardboard box containing four packs of water crackers, three packs of coconut milk, five packs of soup mix, three packs of seasoning and one coffee.

The packages were searched and were found to contain green vegetable matter resembling ganja. During an interview with the police, Stewart informed them that she paid to ship the packages on behalf of a friend. When the matter was mentioned before Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks, prosecutors said they were opposed to bail and that Stewart is to face the St James Parish Court for similar offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Crooks ordered that Stewart's criminal records be checked and her antecedents be made available for the next court date should a bail application be made. Stewart was made the subject of a fingerprint order and is to return to court on May 16. - T.T.