Drug smuggling soldiers granted bail

Staff Sergeants Adisa Higgins and Clovis Sam of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), both facing charges of
drug trafficking, have been granted bail after spending three weeks on remand.

The two soldiers were ordered to post $300,000 each when they appeared before Magistrate Dylon
Bess on Monday at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts.

Initially arraigned on July 22, 2024, before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, they were remanded to prison.
However, upon their reappearance before Magistrate Dylon Bess, cash bail was approved.

As part of their bail conditions, Higgins and Sam must regularly report to the Golden Grove Police
Station and must surrender their passports to the clerk of court.

Higgins was represented by Attorney Bernard Da Silva, while Attorney-at-Law Patrice Henry represented
Sam. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Their next court date is scheduled for August 16, 2024, for reports on the case.

The soldiers were arrested by Police at about 03:45hrs on July 18, 2024, after their vehicle was
intercepted and searched, and they were found to be in possession of 22 bulky bags containing 154 lbs
of marijuana.

The two GDF ranks were nabbed at Coverden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) during a joint intelligence-led
Police operation conducted by ranks from Special Branch and Regional Division 4B.

The vehicle they were using is registered to the GDF.

Both soldiers are stationed at GDF’s Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown.