Cocaine and ganja case set for December 9

WESTERN BUREAU:

The three St James residents arrested on drug-related charges following a police raid in September had their bails extended until December 9, following their latest appearance in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Sanjae Smythe, Raymond Copeland and Tara Kentish are charged in relation to 10.43 ounces of ganja. Copeland is also charged alongside another defendant, Nicole Bent, in relation to 49 pounds and 12.5 ounces of cocaine.

Although not much information was given on the case yesterday, aside from the return date, it is understood that, on a previous court date, a number of documents had been outstanding. These include the forensic certificate and Communication Forensic and Cyber-Crime Unit report in relation to telephone data.

It is alleged that, on September 9 this year, a police team, acting on information, conducted a search of a house in Catherine Mount, St James, where Copeland and Bent had been seen. During the search, 49 pounds and 12.5 ounces of cocaine wrapped in 23 parcels, along with US$10,000 (J$1,185,000), were seized.

It is further alleged that on the same day, the police went to premises owned by Copeland at Bogue Village, where approxi-mately 45 bags with vegetable matter resembling ganja, a chillum pipe, and US$13,525 (J$1,602,712.50) were found. Smythe and Kentish, who were seen at that premises, were later arrested and charged with the other two defendants.