THREE MEN were ordered to face judge and jury yesterday for trying to smuggle five guns, almost $1 million worth of cannabis and a quantity of cocaine into the island last year.
Stacey Terrence Richards, a 42-year-old cook, of Kingsland Gardens North, Christ Church; Grantley Dolar Babb, a 62-year-old fisherman, of Lower Burney, St Michael, and Lordon Emmanuel Marlon Charles, a 30-year-old painter, of Powder Road, Station Hill, St Michael, were back in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The three were jointly charged with three counts of possession and three counts of importation of three .40-calibre pistols; importation and possession of a .45-calibre pistol; importation and possession of a 9mmcalibre pistol, and importation and possession of 23 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
They were also charged with possession, trafficking, possession with intent to supply and importation of 6.5 kilogrammes of cocaine valued at $325 000, and possession, trafficking, possession with intent to supply and importation of 232.4 kilogrammes of cannabis valued at $929 600. The offences were dated March 20, 2018, when police from the Drug Squad and Anti-Gun and Gangs Unit, along with the Coast Guard, intercepted a boat off Brandon’s Beach, St Michael.
Yesterday, Magistrate Douglas Frederick committed the three to stand trial at the High Court.
Richards and Babb remain in custody at HMP Dodds, while Charles was allowed to continue on bail of $120 000 with conditions of reporting to the nearest police every Monday and Friday, and curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
LORDON CHARLES
(right) in the custody of a prison officer STACEY RICHARDS (left) and Grantley Babb yesterday. (Pictures by Xtra Vision Photography.)
