TWO men who were held in a motorcar with 146 pounds of ganja were remanded into custody after they were denied bail in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court Friday.

The accused men — Courtney Blake of a St Elizabeth address, and Richard Hemmings of a Kingston address < who were passengers in a motorcar that was destined for Kingston, were travelling along Bustamante highway when they were caught.

During a search of the vehicle, 10 plastic bags of ganja were reportedly found in the car trunk and nine other bags were reportedly taken from the back seat of the car.

Police say Hemmings, who was travelling in the back of the car, was caught sitting on the bags of ganja.

The driver of the car, Rohan Smith, was also arrested and is now serving an 18-month prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to ganja charges.

Both accused are facing charges of possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, trafficking ganja and conspiracy to traffic ganja.

However, lawyers for both accused are maintaining the innocence of their clients. Both attorneys told Magistrate Lorna Shelly Williams that their clients were not aware of the presence of ganja in the car and had both been offered a ride into Kingston from St Elizabeth.

Blake’s attorney, Floyd Green, told the court that on the night in question his client was on the road looking for a taxi when a man told him that he could get ride into Kingston.

Hemmings’ attorney Charles Williams told the court that his client was standing at a gas station in the parish when he too begged a ride.

Both lawyers pointed out to the court that Smith had already admitted that the drugs belonged to him.

However, the magistrate told them that she was not minded to offer their client bail and remanded them into custody.

They are return to court on August 22.