Sizzla Charged For Ganga Possession

According to a recent publication in the Jamaica Observer popular dancehall singjay Miguel 'Sizzla' Collins had the future of his international career put in jeopardy after having a conviction for a drug-related offence recorded against his name when he appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Collins, who is responsible for reggae and dancehall hits such as Nah Apologise, Black Woman And Child, Rise To The Occasion and Solid As A Rock, was yesterday sentenced to pay a fine of J$100 or serve 10 days behind bars after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana.

Collins' ability to travel overseas may be jeopardised, however, after the presiding magistrate Glen Brown ordered that Collins be fingerprinted, which also signified that the conviction would be recorded on Collins' criminal record.

The court was yesterday told that on January 4, Collins was seen by police sitting in his car, which was parked along Windward Road in Kingston. The officers subsequently searched his car and found a small bag of the drug under a mat in the car. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

Collins has allegedly appeared in the Half- Way-Tree Court at least once before in connection with a drug-related offence.

Collins is, however, not the first reggae/dancehall artiste to be convicted on drug charges. In April 2004 Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie was found guilty of possession of marijuana charge in 2004. Myrie was arrested and charged after police searched his studio in Red Hills, St Andrew and found three marijuana plants.