Lethem Drug Bust: Minibus Passenger Caught with Over 1.4kg of Marijuana

June 18 2025

A drug interdiction operation in Region Nine led to the arrest of a minibus passenger on Wednesday after police discovered more than 1.4 kilograms of marijuana in his possession.

According to a police report, at approximately 14:00 hrs, acting on intelligence received, ranks from the Lethem Police Station intercepted a minibus (registration #BAD 6117) along the Annai-Lethem Trail.

The vehicle, driven by Andel Awar, was transporting six passengers — one Guyanese female and five males, including four Brazilians and one Guyanese.

Upon informing the driver and passengers of the reason for the stop, the police requested to conduct a search. The group agreed but asked for the search to be done at the Lethem Police Station due to the intense afternoon heat. The vehicle was escorted to the station by detectives.

Once at the station, all passengers retrieved their luggage, and a thorough search was conducted. During the search, 24-year-old Sedney Aubrey Johnson, also known as “Cooliebai,” a construction worker from Hope Estate, East Coast Demerara, was found with a blue and grey haversack containing three parcels wrapped in transparent plastic. The parcels were opened and found to contain leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

Johnson was arrested and taken into custody. The suspected marijuana was weighed and amounted to 1,478 grams. Investigations are ongoing.