One of two men held with 30 gallons of rum along with $170,000 was given 12 months' probation, while the other was freed.

Convicted for unlawful possession of property is Shane Muschette of Old Harbour Road,St Catherine. The Crown withdrew the case against Radiay Henry.

Muschette was sentenced following a strenuous plea for mitigation from his attorney. The lawyer insisted that Muschette bought the rum from a truck to supply to members of a round-robin session.

He told the court that money seized by the police was also collected from round-robin members.

Resident Magistrate Simone Wolfe-Reece told the lawyer that Muschette's behaviour upon seeing the police had arose reasonable suspicion.

Arresting officer Corporal Marlon Morse outlined that on November 2, about 7 p.m., he was in a marked police service vehicle when he spotted a Honda motor car collecting petrol at a service station in Gutters, St Catherine.

The court was told the car sped off with gas still been pumped into it.

This arose the suspicion of the police and the car was intercepted.

During a search, six 5 gallon containers with substance resembling white rum were discovered along with $173,000.

The police said the explanation given about the possession of the exhibits was unsatisfactory.

As a result, both men were subsequently charged with unlawful possession of property.