WESTERN BUREAU: St Elizabeth farmer, Alrick Foster, who was found with seven pounds of ganja inside his travelling bag while on his way out of the island, was on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of half-a-million dollars after evidence was produced that his luggage might have been tampered with.

At 7:00 pm on December 18, Foster, 26, was an outgoing British Airways passenger destined for London via the Sangster International Airport when a sniffer dog alerted K-9 officers to his travelling bag. It was searched and the seven pounds of ganja found inside.

He was later arrested for possession of, dealing in and attempting to export the drugs.

In court Wednesday, it was revealed that investigations into the case were continuing since Foster had implicated another man who had accompanied him to the airport. It was suggested that this man might have placed the drugs inside the travelling bag.

Foster alleged that he had left the bag in the care of this man, and went to the bathroom. He said that after he returned from the bathroom and checked in, the bag was searched and the drugs found.

The investigating officer made no objection to his being granted bail, and he is scheduled to return to court on January 2.