St Lucian trio nabbed with 261 pounds of cannabis

Three St Lucian nationals have been remanded at Her Majesty’s Prison after being nabbed in Mustique by police with a large quantity of marijuana.{{more}}

Cornelius Raggie, Herbert Joseph and Eliphas Aurelien, all appeared before magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to possession of 261 pounds (118,494 grammes) of cannabis for the purpose of drug trafficking, on June 2, at Mustique.

The men also pleaded not guilty to having 261 pounds in their possession with the intent to supply to another.

When the issue of bail arose, prosecutor Corporal Gideon Black objected to the men’s bail, on the grounds that they were St Lucian nationals and if given bail, they would not return to St Vincent to answer to the charges.

Black said the men were found with a significant quantity of drugs and that when caught, they were without any travel documents.

Magistrate Browne-Matthias said she agreed with Black’s objection and remanded the men in custody.

The matter was adjourned to July 9, 2014 and transferred to the Serious Offences Court for hearing.

The St Lucians were not represented by counsel.(KW)