NARCO DRAGNET
One of two accused in alleged transnational drug ring to contest extradition
Published:Saturday | July 23, 2022 | 12:09 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
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Fifty-year-old Anthony Daniels and 60-year-old Hugh Fraser, who were among four men held in a major police operation this week, have been accused of being players in a drug-trafficking network operating out of Jamaica and the United States. Daniels...
Fifty-year-old Anthony Daniels and 60-year-old Hugh Fraser, who were among four men held in a major police operation this week, have been accused of being players in a drug-trafficking network operating out of Jamaica and the United States.
Daniels, who is from a St Andrew address, and Fraser, of Westgate Hills in Montego Bay, St James, were yesterday placed before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.
The United States has sent extradition requests for both men, who are wanted in Pennsylvania for alleged crimes.
Daniels, through his attorney Christopher Townsend, informed the judge that he wished to proceed to an extradition hearing, which was set for September 13.
As it pertains to Fraser, the judge was informed that his lawyer, Martyn Thomas, wants further instruction. As a result, an August 2 date was scheduled for him to return to court.
Both men were remanded.
Daniels and Fraser were arrested in targeted anti-narcotics operations by police-military teams in St James and St Andrew on Wednesday.
Daniels, who was arrested in St Andrew, is wanted for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and two counts of distribution of five kilograms of cocaine or more.
The allegations are that between February and December of last year, US authorities carried out an investigation into a drug-trafficking network operating out of Jamaica and Philadelphia, which led to the seizure of a quantity of cocaine at the Philadelphia International Airport. Investigations reportedly led to Daniels and he was indicted.
ALLEGED SHIPMENTS
Fraser, who was apprehended in Montego Bay, is wanted for attempting to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
It is said that a probe by American investigators between January and December of last year reportedly found that he is a part of a drug-trafficking network that provided bulk quantity of cocaine to persons in Pennsylvania.
Two different sets of controlled shipments of cocaine weighing nine and 12 kilograms, respectively, which were shipped from Jamaica in November and December last year are alleged to have been linked to him.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration and US Marshals Service had assisted local law enforcement agencies, including the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), in apprehending the men.
According to MOCA, the team in St Andrew discovered approximately US$40,723, CDN$29,190, and J$530,750 in cash, along with a licensed Glock firearm with 132 live rounds, 19 cell phones, 28 SIM cards, and other evidentiary material.
In Montego Bay, detectives reportedly seized US$6,785, eleven cell phones, and a BMW motor car.
In another operation by the Joint Anti-Gang Task Force yesterday, eight persons of St James addresses were detained in Portmore, St Catherine.
The suspects, who under surveillance by law enforcement authorities for some time, reportedly tried to burn and flush lead sheets as officers tried to enter the gated complex about 7 a.m.
After gaining entry, the fire was put out and the six men and two women held. They are believed to have fled their western Jamaica homes after heightened anti-scamming operations in western Jamaica.
More than 20 cellular phones, multiple SIM cards, several laptops, bank cards and items believed to be used in carrying out lottery scamming activities were seized.
The police believe the men are linked to a major gang operating in western Jamaica.