KINGSTON, Jamaica — A vendor has been fined after pleading guilty to possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, and possession of uncustomed goods when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

The accused, Alrick Topping, was ordered to pay $24,751.90 or serve 30 days in jail for possession of uncustomed cigarettes, $1,000 for the ganja charge, and $1,300 or 10 days for dealing in ganja.

According to police reports, on August 9, lawmen were on patrol when they observed men gambling at a stall operated by Topping. A search of the premises uncovered vegetable matter resembling ganja, weighing approximately 2.54 ounces, packaged in small wrappers. Four packs of uncustomed cigarettes were also seized.

In court, Topping pleaded guilty, telling the judge it was the first time he had been involved in such an offence.

Investigating officers further confirmed that he was not a known offender, noting that he typically sells dry goods to police officers at night.

— Brittania Witter