Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
FOUR MEN, facing a raft of charges under the Food and Drug Act, were fined a total of $550,000 in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court yesterday.
The men had been apprehended while selling pharmaceutical goods without a licence in the Spanish Town area. They are Anthony Reid, 25; Rolington Roach, 23; David Barns, 35 and Junior Rowe, 30, all of Spanish Town, St. Catherine addresses.
They faced charges of displaying prescription drugs for sale, possession of prescription drugs, selling drugs on an unlicensed premises and displaying goods for sale, knowing they have to be prescribed.
When they appeared in court yesterday, they pleaded guilty.
Barnes was fined $50,000 on each breach, a total of $200,000. If he fails to pay, he faces 12 months in prison.
Both Rowe and Roache were convicted on three counts of breaches under the Food and Drug Act, and fined $150,000 each. If they fail to pay, they will have to serve three 3-month terms of imprisonment to run consecutively - a total of nine months each.
Anthony was fined $50,000, and faces a three-month term if the fine is not paid.
VARIETY OF DRUGS
Detective Corporal Kirk Roach of the Spanish Town Criminal Investigation Branch outlined to Resident Magistrate Carol Edwards that on July 5 this year, about 8:30 p.m., a police party which had the men under surveillance for five weeks, went to the LOJ Shopping Centre and found the men selling the emergency contraceptive Postinor 2, Anafranil known as 'bomb' or 'gungo', 'chiney brush' and 'stone' (a local anaesthetic), the aphrodisiac Spanish Fly, and Z100 commonly known as 'Viagra', Conagra, a clone of the Viagra, and Retardin Cream which assists men who suffer from premature ejaculation. They were subsequently charged by the police and later granted bail.
Resident Magistrate Edwards lauded the police for their efforts. She said that they need to employ a zero-tolerance approach. When she handed down the fine, she told the men she would not allow them to destroy the country with their illicit actions.
