Joel Johnson
Joel Johnson, a 21-year-old Prison Officer from Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara, has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. He was also fined $30,000.
Johnson appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on January 15, 2025, where he admitted to being in possession of 804 grams of cannabis.
The arrest occurred on January 14, 2025, around 6:30 p.m., when Johnson returned to the Mazaruni Prison checkpoint after being granted four days off duty. During a mandatory search, he presented a green haversack for inspection. Inside, officers discovered eight Irish Spring soap boxes and two Colgate toothpaste boxes containing cannabis concealed in transparent plastic.
The on-duty Prison Officer immediately arrested Johnson and alerted the police. Corporal Yearwood took custody of the suspect and the narcotics, which were later weighed at the Bartica Police Station, confirming a total of 804 grams.
Johnson was charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, Chapter 10:10, Section 5(1)(a)(i). His sentencing reflects the court’s stance on addressing drug-related offenses, particularly within law enforcement.
