A police vehicle transports the drugs allegedly found on the boat with Glenroy Pierre and two other men. Photo: VINO/File

Two of the three men, Adrian Arthur and Ralph James have already pleaded guilty to drug related charges and illegal entry following an alleged drug bust by police officers off the coast of Anegada last October.

Pierre is charged with illegal entry in addition to joint charges of supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug; possession of a controlled drug, importation or being concerned in the importation of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of a controlled drug.

The matter involving the men came up for trial yesterday, however, attorney Patrick Thompson told the court that he would not be in a position to proceed in the trial in view of the fact that Pierre indicated that he was looking at other options for his defence.

Pierre then told the court yesterday that he no longer wished to be represented by an attorney and would be taking care of his case on his own. “I don’t know what is going on up here, so I will just say what I have for myself and that’s about it,” Pierre told Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards.

Pierre insisted that he would maintain his not guilty pleas and was given all the documents relevant to the case by Thompson during yesterday’s hearing.

Magistrate Richards questioned the defendant about whether he was certain he would maintain his pleas or would need additional time to peruse the documents before arriving at a decision.

He requested more time and was given until May 31, 2013 to report on how he wished to proceed. His co-accused, Ralph James and Adrian Arthur, will be sentenced on the same day after pleading guilty earlier.

Allegations:

Previously, Principal Crown Counsel Ms Tiffany Scatliffe told the court that on October 25, 2012 around 2:45 P.M. members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force were conducting patrols along the north of Tortola and encountered a 50-foot sloop (sailing vessel) about 14.4 miles south of Anegada.

Officers came upon the vessel which was not flying the red ensign or any other territorial flag and a check was made with Her Majesty’s Customs, which confirmed that the said vessel had not obtained or applied for a clearance from Customs or Immigration.

Police, upon receiving that information used their sirens to bring the boat to a stop and the boat complied. Police boarded the vessel and introduced themselves while the men aboard the vessel identified themselves as the above-named accused.

The court heard that the officers then enquired as to how long they were in the Territory to which they responded by saying a few days. They were then asked about whether an application for clearance was made and Arthur allegedly responded in the negative. The men were then cautioned and told that this was an offence at which point they were then arrested for illegal entry.

Police subsequently asked the men whether anything illegal was aboard the vessel and cautioned the men. It was at this point that Arthur allegedly said yes and told the officers afterwards “Marijuana… plenty… about a thousand pounds.”

Arthur was then invited to show Police the location of the alleged drug. Police reportedly videotaped the proceedings.

Ms Scatliffe told the court that drugs were allegedly found stuffed all over the vessel including the lavatory and were reportedly in crocus bags. The crocus bags were said to contain smaller bags of vegetable matter which was suspected to be cannabis.

The vessel was then towed to the marine base and photos were taken of what was discovered.

The court was also told that On August 31, 2012 the accused were on the said vessel in Antigua and requested clearance from St Martin to go to Jamaica. About two weeks ago they allegedly left Jamaica with their final destination being Antigua.

Meanwhile, when the men were discovered in the Territory by the patrol group, it was alleged that they had ran out of fuel and were experiencing mechanical difficulties. When the men were intercepted they were trying to conduct repairs to the vessel.

The trio allegedly went to Jamaica from St Martin, to collect Marijuana and they were on their way back to Antigua, when during the travels, it was discovered that the vessel ran out of gas and they were also experiencing mechanical problems at the same time which prevented them from sailing. She further alleged that one of the men had claimed that they arrived a few days before October 25, and were drifting.