DEXTER Hunte, of Lot 31 South Haslington, East Coast Demerara, yesterday pleaded guilty to drug trafficking but Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton changed his plea after hearing his explanation.

Particulars of the offence said the defendant, last June 25, was in possession of one gramme cocaine for the purpose.

Police Inspector Desiree Fowler, prosecuting, said ranks were on mobile patrol, in the vicinity of Stabroek Market, when they found the defendant with a container that had the narcotic in a pants pocket.

But Hunte said he was at a cane juice stall with seven other persons and did not have the cocaine on his person but was smoking it.

He was put on $20,000 bail until September 3.