KINGSTON, Jamaica— A couple facing multiple charges related to the seizure of approximately 902 pounds of ganja at their home were granted bail at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

Robert Mahoney and his wife Evette Creary-Mahoney were charged after the police served a search warrant at their home on November 30, 2024 and the ganja was found along with over $800,000.

They were subsequently charged with taking steps to export ganja; using premises as storage of ganja; possession of criminal property; conspiracy to export ganja; possession of ganja and dealing in ganja.

When Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell queried what the couple was doing with so much of the drug at their home, the lawyer representing them explained that his client, Mahoney, told him that a friend had asked him to keep the ganja at his house, but he never returned. He clarified too that Creary-Mahoney was not aware that the ganja was being kept at the house.

The lawyer added that his client wanted to shorten procedures at court and take responsibility for his action. However, he requested that the amount of marijuana seized be confirmed and a forensic certificate provided for the drug.

Mahoney pleaded guilty to three of the six charges including using premises as storage of ganja; possession of ganja and dealing in ganja; the latter charge was added as he sold more than eight ounces of the drug on November 7, 2024.

He pleaded not guilty to the other charges including possession of criminal property which was added because the money found at the house was presumed to be connected to the drug. However the lawyer said that the money was as a result of a number of round robins that Creary-Mahoney is a part of. Creary-Mahoney pleaded not guilty to all six charges.

The lawyer representing the couple petitioned the court to grant bail to his clients, which was offered to Mahoney at $1 million and to Creary-Mahoney at $500,000.

The couple are expected to report to the Half-Way-Tree police station every Wednesday and Saturday between 6am and 6pm, and surrender all their travel documents. A stop order has also been placed on all ports.

Sentencing is set for February 27, 2025.