MORE than $200,000 in cash was seized from a driver on Monday.
Police reported that the 34-year-old man from Production Drive, Sea Lots needs to state where he got the sum of money from.
Police stated that around 4.45 pm, three police officers of the Motorcycle Section of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch were on traffic duty along the eastbound lane of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in the vicinity of the St Augustine Girls’ High School, when they observed a grey Hyundai Creta speeding along the shoulder.
Two officers gave chase however the driver failed to stop. With the assistance of other units, the police officers intercepted the vehicle along Collage Trace, St Augustine, near the University of the West Indies (UWI) South Gate.
The driver was ticketed for the traffic offence of improper overtaking on the left.
Police officers at the scene however got a strong scent which they believed to be that of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A search was conducted of the vehicle in which officers found a plastic bag that contained a large quantity of money.
The driver was unable to give a proper account as to how he came into possession of the cash. He was immediately detained by police and taken to the St Joseph Police Station. Officers of the Financial Investigations Bureau (FIB) were called in and seized the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Section 38 (1). A count of the money totalled $225,132. PC Woodly of the FIB is continuing inquiries.
