On June 11, Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool at the Linden Magistrate’s Court dismissed the trafficking in narcotics charge against former Alliance For Change (AFC) executive Devin Sears after upholding a no-case submission made by his lawyer.
On October 20th, 2025, Sears and his stepfather, 69-year-old Albert Stanley, were arrested at Bamia, Soesdyke-Linden Highway with 310.71 Kgs cannabis in their possession and were charged with drug trafficking.
Four days after the arrest, Sandy admitted in court to the offence and took full responsibility for the narcotics while Sears remained silent. The magistrate had remanded Sears to prison. He was at the time was represented by attorneys Bernard Da Silva and Nigel Hughes. He was later granted bail in the High Court.
Sears in a statement to the media on June 11 said the dismissal of the matter brought to close “a chapter that has tested me, my family, my loved ones, and all those who stood beside me throughout this ordeal”.
He noted that from the beginning he had maintained his innocence and he thanked all those who supported him even as he acknowledged the professionalism of the members of the Guyana Police Force with whom he interacted during the ordeal.
But even as he thanked the many who stood by him, Sears also spoke of those who relied on gossip and sensationalism, some who, according to him, even contacted the prison and misrepresented themselves as lawyers while dropping the names of officials in an effort to solicit information about his incarceration.
“Others attempted to embarrass and humiliate me through photographs, commentary, and public ridicule at a time when the matter was still before the court,” Sears lamented.
“Most disappointing of all were those who knew me personally, my character and values. People who shared my table, my friendship, my confidence, and my trust were among those quickest to believe the worst, repeat rumours, and distance themselves with statements when their support would have mattered most,” he added.
The police in a release about the arrest last year had said its ranks were on mobile patrol duties in the vicinity of the Old Bamia Police Checkpoint in Linden when they arrested the two men.
In a statement, the force said the ranks were conducting a random ‘stop and search’, when they stopped a dark blue Toyota Hiace minibus, bearing registration number BAJ 4486, property of the Region #10 Tourism Committee Inc. The vehicle was driven by Sears, whom they described as a 39-year-old educator and political activist from Mackenzie, Linden. The passenger was Sandy, a farmer from Tacama Waterfront, Upper Berbice River, who was seated in the front passenger seat.
Upon stopping the vehicle, the police alleged that Sears began acting in a suspicious manner and sweating profusely.
One of the ranks asked the driver what he was transporting, to which he replied, “I am transporting tourism plants.” The rank then instructed the driver to pull to the side of the road and informed him that a search would be conducted on the vehicle. The driver acknowledged.
Police then discovered twenty-two bulky black plastic bags and four large brown canvas bags inside the vehicle containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis. Both men were told of the offence, arrested, and cautioned. Sears remained silent, while Albert admitted ownership, stating that the narcotics belonged to him and that he had paid Sears to transport him to Parika.
Both men were arrested and escorted to the Mackenzie Police Station along with the cannabis, which was weighed in their presence and amounted to 310.71 kilogrammes.
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