Eduardo Swaby Gutierrez, 32, and Leonela Pedroza, 29, were arrested on 5 September 2016 when police searched a West Bay home where the two lived.[1] Officers went to the West Bay address on 5 September 2016 and both Swaby Gutierrez and Pedroza were there; Swaby Gutierrez admitted there was ganja in the premises.[1] In the kitchen, officers found a glass jar with ganja in it and digital scales, and 20 cases of quart-size glass jars, 12 jars to a case.[1] Police searched another address connected to Swaby Gutierrez and found more than 7,000 dollars in cash, which is the subject of a charge of possession of criminal property.[1] Both were charged with possession and possession with intent to supply over 200 pounds of ganja; Swaby Gutierrez also faced the property charge.[1]
Magistrate Grace Donalds refused bail for both on 7 September 2016 and remanded them in custody until 14 September.[1] The bail refusal followed Swaby Gutierrez’s application, citing his West Bay business; Pedroza’s application cited her Seven Mile Beach bartending job.[1]
On 14 September, Swaby Gutierrez pleaded guilty to possession of 220 pounds of ganja with intent to supply, accepting that all of the ganja was his.[2] The certified weight of the ganja was 269.9 pounds, initially estimated at around 200 pounds.[3]
On 15 September 2016, Swaby Gutierrez was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for possession of ganja with intent to supply.[4] Charges against Pedroza were withdrawn the same day after Swaby Gutierrez’s plea; she was discharged.[3]
