Fugitive Dexter Renaud arrives at Piarco International
Airport on Sunday night, for his extradition to
New Jersey, US. Photo: ANGELO MARCELLE

While nationals of T&T were enjoying the long Independence weekend, a wanted Trinidadian was being extradited to New York at midnight on Sunday. Dexter Renaud was taken from the prison by officers of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau and transported to Piarco International Airport. It was just after 10 pm on Sunday, that Renaud, 45, walked into the terminal building in handcuffs, dressed in a white jersey and light blue short pants, holding his bible. He was put on Continental Airlines’ midnight flight bound for Newark, New Jersey.

On his arrival in New Jersey, Renaud was handed over to the US authorities, who took him before a US magistrate in New York, hours later, to answer two charges of conspiracy to import cocaine and trafficking cocaine in the United States. It is alleged that he committed the offences between June, 2007, and August, 2008. Renaud was charged jointly with Trinidadian Dennis Benn, to traffic the cocaine, contrary to Section 5 (4) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1991, as amended. Benn, formerly of Crescent Street in Trincity, Tacarigua, was extradited to New York on March 6 to answer the charges. The case against Benn is still pending. Renaud, also called Claudius Joseph, gave three addresses to local authorities on his arrest earlier this year. He was listed as living in Diego Martin, Petit Bourg, and Point Fortin. He was arrested at Piarco in April on his arrival from a flight from Grenada.

Renaud’s arrest and extradition followed the collaborative efforts of the Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB), and US-based Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the local Counter Drug and Crime Task Force, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Renaud lost his extradition battle on August 15 before Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls, presiding in Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court. Renaud retained Osbourne Charles, SC, and Richard Mason, and contended that the extradition request of the US was void, as from the phrasing of various statements, the assistant attorney who certified the document seemed to have no power to prosecute. Alvin Fizpatrick, SC, who appeared for the US Government, provided proof that the assistant attorney did, indeed, act on behalf of the United States of America, and more importantly, he had acted with prosecuting authority.

After hearing the evidence and submissions, McNicolls said enough evidence was provided to prove that the attorney who signed the document had acted with the appropriate authority. He then granted the extradition request. Renaud had 15 days in which to challenge the extradition order, but he declined to contest the matter further, and the local authorities got the signed approval of Attorney General John Jeremie to extradite him to New York.