Dutchman allegedly caught with cocaine valued at J$28.3 million remanded
Published:Thursday | July 25, 2024 | 12:05 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Patrick Crawford, the Dutch national who was allegedly caught trying to smuggle cocaine valued at J$28.3 million out of the island, via the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay, St James, on May 9, was remanded in custody after a brief appearance in the St James Parish Court yesterday
Crawford, who is charged with possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export 13.5 pounds of cocaine, had his case put off by presiding parish judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton until July 25, following a brief discussion between the judge and Crawford’s defence lawyer, Henry McCurdy.
During yesterday’s deliberations, it was disclosed that a forensic certificate, which has been outstanding from the prosecution’s case-file since May, has still not been submitted for the completion of the file.
“We can set the matter for tomorrow (Thursday). We are still without the forensic certificate,” McCurdy told Fairclough-Hylton in suggesting a quick mention date to revisit Crawford’s case.
“We are awaiting the certificate, counsel? Very well, we will set it for July 25, 2024, and he is remanded in custody until then,” Fairclough-Hylton replied. Crawford was subsequently handcuffed and taken out of the courtroom.
According to the allegations, on May 9, about 5:00 p.m., Crawford, a 44-year-old carpenter of a Rotherdam, Holland address, attempted to board a flight to Brussels, Belgium, at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
While checking in to board the flight, Crawford was approached and spoken to by narcotics personnel, following which his luggage was searched. The cocaine was reportedly found in false compartments inside his luggage. Crawford was arrested for breaching the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Because of the incomplete case-file in the case against Crawford, which first came before the St James Parish Court on May 20, and which was previously put off on at least one occasion, a concern has emerged as it relates to the defendant’s medical status.
During a previous court appearance on June 10, the court was informed that Crawford was suffering from a toothache and other ailments and needed medical attention. At that time, Crawford complained to presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce that his requests to the police for medical attention and for his cell to be cleaned had fallen on deaf ears.
Crawford apparently got some medical attention as he was absent from court on June 24, when his case came up for mention. The court was told that he had been hospitalised that morning, just hours before his scheduled court appearance.
Crawford’s case is one of several high-profile cocaine-related cases before the St James Parish Court. In several of the cases, defendants have reportedly been involved in trafficking millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine, which has resulted in St James being labelled as a haven for drug trafficking.