Manchester man held with cocaine at Sangster airport gets $1.2 million bail
Published:Wednesday | May 29, 2024 | 4:04 PM
The Manchester man who was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle $18.7 million worth of cocaine through the Sangster International Airport was offered $1.2 million bail in the St James Parish Court today.
Thomas Edwards, 52, who is of a Hatfield address, is charged with possession of, dealing in, attempting to export, and conspiracy to export eight and three-quarter pounds of cocaine.
He pleaded not guilty.
During Edwards' bail hearing, his attorney Martyn Thomas told presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce that his client had no knowledge of the contraband being in his suitcase at the time of his arrest.
Thomas also noted that Edwards has no criminal record, and that he has been cooperating with the authorities since he was detained on May 22.
The court was also told that several documents are currently outstanding from the prosecution's file, including a forensic certificate, a scene-of-crime statement and CD, and Justice of the Peace statement.
In granting bail, Grant-Pryce ordered the accused to report to the police three times a week and to surrender his travel documents.
She also ordered that he should submit his fingerprints to the police.
The case will be mentioned again on June 26.
Allegations are that on May 22, at 5:10 p.m., Edwards was preparing to board a flight to Heathrow in England at the Sangster International Airport when a security check of his suitcase revealed a false compartment where three packages wrapped in black plastic were found.
The packages were examined and allegedly found to contain a substance resembling cocaine.
Under caution, Edwards reportedly said concerning the suitcase, “A borrow mi borrow it enuh. One of my drinking friends named Marcus.”
He was subsequently arrested and charged.
- Christopher Thomas
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