UPDATE - Baughers Bay drug bust: US intel helped in arrests
The four men appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, Prospect Reef this afternoon May 21, 2012 where they pleaded not guilty to being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug; importation of a controlled drug; smuggling; unlawful possession of cannabis; being engaged in smuggling and failing to declare upon entry.
However, Richards, who was found with 10 grammes of cannabis, pleaded guilty and was fined $800 or two months in prison. He has until 2 p.m. tomorrow, May 22, 2012 to pay the fine.
Principal Crown Counsel, Tiffany Scatliffe informed the court that the information from the USVI prompted the Police and Customs officers to conduct a joint operation surveillance of the Baughers Bay area on May 18.
According to Scatliffe, the accused men were seen entering the Baugher’s Bay lagoon on a 34 foot white and blue power vessel. “Intelligence received confirmed that the vessel came from St. John.”
While the men were unloading the packages into a van that belong to Khoy’s Mailing Service, Police approached and identified themselves. Asked if they had anything illegal on their person or possession, Frett allegedly replied that he ran a mail service and “don’t know what customers have in their mail.”
Officers then asked Frett, the owner of Khoy’s Mailing Service, for the Customs declaration form, and in doing so, he allegedly told officers that the one he used was dated May 14, 2012, which the Principal Crown Counsel pointed out was valid for 24 hours.
During the search of over 50 packages, law enforcement officers found the illegal substance in two white buckets in a brown box. When arrested and cautioned, the four men made no reply but during an audio-cautioned interview, Frett allegedly stated that the box was one of five that was placed last minute on the boat in St. John.
Meanwhile, the other accused men stated that they had no idea what was in the box. A minor was also on the vessel.
The street value for the cannabis is $20,520.
Crown outlined specific bail conditions
Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens offered Frett $50,000 bail of which $25,000 has to be cash; Donovan $40,000 signed surety; Persaud $40,000 signed surety and extended Richards’ $25,000 Police bail. They all have to report to the Road Town Police Station every Tuesday and Thursday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
But prior to that, Principal Crown Counsel Scatliffe was adamant that while she was not objecting to bail, one of the stipulations was that their passports had to be surrendered. Magistrate Stephens agreed, despite arguments by Stephen Daniels, who is representing Frett, Persaud and Donovan.
The Principal Crown Counsel had also asked for each of the defendants to have two signed sureties, who had their own land and no financial obligations to the bank. She had also requested a cash component be attached to the bail offers.
In his bail application, Daniels pointed out that Frett, 42, needed his passport since he was the point person in dealing with the authorities at the St. John Post Office.
According to Daniels, the nature of his client’s business meant that he had to pick up mails and packages every Tuesday and Friday. The lawyer argued that taking away Frett’s passport would affect his business since it was his sole income earner.
“He has lost a lot of customers and the nature of his business is very sensitive,” Daniels added.
Daniels further stated that his client does not go into his customers packages, and the box which contained the substance was sealed and had an invoice attached to it.
Persaud, a Guyanese national living in the Virgin Islands for over 20 years, was the captain of the vessel, while Donovan and Richards, both Virgin Islanders, helped with loading and unloading the cargo.
The men have to reappear in court on June 5, 2012 and it is hoped by then Richards would have hired a lawyer.
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