18 months for drug possession

A 24-YEAR-OLD man was jailed 18 months by a committal court for having nine packets of cannabis in his possession on Feb 25.
Magistrate Albert Daniels read out the charge to Stanley Andape, from Komo-Magarima’s Wapia village, Hela, yesterday.
Andape then pleaded guilty as charged.
Magistrate Daniels then ordered to exhibits to be destroyed after 30 days.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Joseph Sangam tendered the nine packets of cannabis to the court as exhibits.
Samgam said the Government had amended the Dangerous Drug Act with the Controlled Substance Act 2021 to increase penalties for drug offenders.
“Under Section 63 of the Controlled Substances Act 2021, the offender should be fined up to K50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years”.
Andape apologised to the court and askee for its mercy.
On Feb 25, at 2.40am, police Fox Unit 310 was patrolling along Erima Freeway Flyover to attend to a theft report when they saw Andape carrying a bilum and crossing the road.
Police got suspicious as to why he had to walk in the early hours of the morning so they stopped and questioned him.
When searching his bilum, police found nine small packets of cannabis.
He was brought to the police station for questioning.
Upon questioning, Andape admitted that the nine packets of cannabis belonged to him and were sold for K2 each.