New date for men in MoBay drug bust

WESTERN BUREAU:

The three St James residents who were last month arrested on ganja charges during a police operation in which a large quantity of cocaine was also seized had their bails extended to November 20, following their latest court appearance on Tuesday.

Raymond Copeland, Sanjae Smythe and Tara Kentish, are currently before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on charges of possession of and dealing in 10.43 ounces of ganja. Copeland is also charged alongside Nicole Bent, who was not in court on Tuesday, for possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export cocaine.

The allegations are that on September 9, a police team, acting on information, conducted a search of a house in Catherine Mount, St James, where Copeland and Bent had been. A search was conducted, and 49 pounds and 12.5 ounces of cocaine wrapped in 23 parcels, along with US$10,000 (J$1,185,000), were seized.

arrested

In the case related to the ganja, it is alleged that on the same day, the police went to premises owned by Copeland at Bogue Village, where approximately 45 bags with vegetable matter resembling ganja, a chillum pipe, and US$13,525 (J$1,602,712.50) were found. The police left the premises and later returned. Smythe and the female defendant in the case were seen there and subsequently arrested.

On Tuesday, the court was told that an outstanding officer's statement had been submitted, and a date was requested to complete the prosecution's case file.

As a result, presiding Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small extended the three defendants' bails.

- C.T.