Two Colombian nationals and three Trinidadians appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday charged with possession of more than $3 million worth in drugs.
The men were Colombians Alfredo Mendoza and Freddy Alexander Rueda and Trinidadians Ken Mathias, of Kelly Village Caroni; Keith Williams, 49, and Keaton Smith, 30, both of Beach Road, Erin. They are charged with having in their possession 148.4 kilogrammes of compressed marijuana, 5.2 kilogrammes of cocaine and three iguanas. According to the charge, the men were held with the items while in the territorial waters of Trinidad and Tobago. Mendoza, Rueda and Mathias were refused bail and told of their rights to apply for bail to a judge in the High Court. The court was told detention orders were served on the Colombians by Immigration officials.
The accused stood before Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan when a total of six charges were read to the them, relating to alleged importation and trafficking of the narcotics and three iguanas. The men pleaded not guilty to the charge of importing the iguanas. That charge was laid by Game Warden Glenford Doyle. Cardenas-Ragoonanan told Mathias she was not granting him bail because he had several matters pending for similar offences. Mathias, however, told the court the matters were dismissed. The magistrate said until proof was provided to the court that the matters were dismissed, he would remain in custody.
Williams was placed on $2.5 million bail, while Smith was granted $2 million bail. The accused were ordered to report to the Erin Police Station everyday. Police prosecutor Sgt Alva Gordon presented to the court a black plastic bag which contained five packets of cocaine and five bags with 146 packets of compressed marijuana. The drugs had an estimated street value of $3.5 million, police said. The accused were arrested on board the vessel Levi Chariot, off Chacachacare, last Friday. They were represented by attorney Sean Fulchan. The matter was adjourned to March 24.
