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$6.2m drug suspect denied bail by court

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama man was denied bail yesterday after being arraigned in connection with the $6.2m drug seizure in the nation’s second city.

Sedrick Wilson, 52, of Arden Forest Road appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt facing two counts of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply stemming from a drug arrest that occurred in Freeport on November 16.

Around 5am on the day in question, Drug Enforcement Unit officers acted on a tip that led them to a home in the Arden Forest area where they searched and discovered a large quantity of illegal drugs in a southeastern bedroom.

Officers seized 113 crocus sacks of suspected marijuana, weighing 5,640lbs. They also seized some 67lbs of hashish oil – a more potent form of marijuana – that was found in a suitcase.

The marijuana has an estimated street value of $5.6m and the hashish oil is worth some $607,500.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and will stand trial on March 17, 2015.

The man no longer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of four years if convicted as the sentencing law has been declared unconstitutional by former Supreme Court Senior Justice Jon Isaacs.

While the magistrate’s discretion in sentencing matters has been restored, she did not have the discretion to consider bail and so remanded him to the Department of Correctional Services.

He was advised of his right to apply for bail to the Supreme Court.

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