Aug 30 - Man On Trial For Amphetamine Charge
A local man who was found with more than £3,000 worth of amphetamines in his house went on trial at the Supreme Court today.
Warren Rae, of Glacis Estate, has already pleaded guilty to one count of possession of 12.22 grams of amphetamines in a mixture weighing 98.14 grams and one count of possession of amphetamines weighing 1.47 grams. However, he maintains his innocence in relation to two further counts of possession with intent to supply the amphetamines.
Prosecutor Kerrin Drago told the jury a search warrant was carried out in June 2014 after the Royal Gibraltar Police’s drugs squad received information of drugs allegedly being supplied from Rae’s residence.
Police officers gained entry into his house by force when they heard movements from within the house and he failed to answer the door, while one officer stood outside his living room window.
Rae was found attempting to hide the evidence by throwing white wrappers out of the living room window. On gaining entry the officers restrained him with handcuffs. A woman was also in the property but she was released shortly after.
Officers found various drug paraphernalia on the table including a spoon that was tested and was found to have traces of amphetamines, weighing scales, further wrappers of unmixed amphetamines and a box of glucose powder.
Mr Drago said advice from RGP drug experts suggested that glucose powder was often used as a bulking agent to increase the street value of the drugs. He added that it makes sense for a drug dealer to have amphetamines that are unadulterated and said that Rae was in the process of mixing the drugs when the police officers arrived.
When taken to New Mole House Police Station, Rae admitted that the drugs were his, telling police officers that he was a long-term drug user and unemployed.
Patrick Canessa appears for the defendant while Puisne Judge Karen Ramagge Prescott presides over the trial which is expected to continue until Friday.
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