BVI Men Charged with Cocaine Possession

Details

police

Saturday, 23 February 2013 02:30

By Nicole Shirley

Antigua St. John's - Two Tortola nationals appeared in the High Court on Friday before Chief Justice Keith Thom.

Luke Joseph and Lloyd Frett had previously pleaded guilty to cocaine possession.

The men were arrested and charged after the Coast Guard spotted their boat at about 10:30 pm on February 5, 2011.

According to reports, the officers boarded the vessel and asked to conduct a search. When they asked who the captain was, Frett said they both were, adding that he worked for Sunsail and had flown in to collect the boat. However, there were no supporting documents from customs or immigration. Frett said he was not in total control of the boat, and so did not declare it.

When officers searched the lower deck, several packages were found containing what appeared to be cocaine. The boat was subsequently taken to the Deep Water Harbour and the ONDCP was alerted.

During interrogation, Frett allegedly told the officers that he had only come along for the ride after he was offered a free trip by someone who had approached him the day before. He said he had seen the packages, but had not questioned this.

Joseph, on the other hand, said that Frett had invited him along for the trip, and told the lawmen that when they left Tortola, the drug was not on board the boat. He said he had no knowledge of how it got on the vessel. The 63-year-old man also said that the vessel had docked twice after leaving the British territory.

The confiscated substance was later tested, and found to be cocaine. There were 169.65 kilos, with a street value of over US$2 M.

The men are expected to be sentenced when they return to court on March 1.

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