Four men have been arrested and charged for the possession and trafficking of drugs by the police and have since made their first court appearances.
According to the police, on the night of the 21st of November 2024, the Drug Squad of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) conducted a significant drug bust at Stowe, leading to the arrest of four individuals: Harrison Warrington of Kingshill, Abram Wilkes of St. Kitts residing at Portsmouth, Lenny Bellot of Bath Estate and Kenson St. Rose of Fond Baron, Loubiere.
The men were charged with trafficking 145 kilograms of cocaine and 239.71 kilograms of cannabis with a combined estimated street value of $4,970,975.60 E.C.
Wayne Norde who represents St. Rose and Warrington, did not make a bail application on their behalf and as a result, they were remanded at the State’s prison in Stock Farm.
Zena Moore Dyer represents Abram Wilkes and Norde represents Bellot who both made bail applications on their behalf.
Mrs. Dyer told the court that her client is a “fisherman by trade” residing in Dominica with a registered business and since 2016 has been exporting fish from Dominica to St. Kitts.
“He has been residing in Dominica lawfully and invested tremendously, is not a flight risk, and has no criminal records,” she told the court. Her client she remarked “is not a man on the street and employs many people.”
Keeping him in custody, she told the court would not do any good to the country since those persons that he employs will be affected. She begged the court to grant bail to her client and he had a fit and proper person waiting and willing to be surety.
In making his bail application on behalf of Bellot, his lawyer Wayne Norde stated that conditions can be put in place to satisfy the fear of the court and prosecution and that “it was in the public’s interest to grant him bail.”
He also told the court that his client was the owner of a bar and restaurant and also employs 8 persons and if denied bail that will affect them and also their families.
“No violence was used in the alleged offense, no evidence of public outcry if bail is granted, he was also briefly hospitalized during his arrest since he is a hypertensive patient,” Norde told the court.
He begged the court to impose strict reporting conditions, also install a tracking device all as part of his bail conditions.
“He is innocent until proven guilty why restrict his liberty…we also have a fit and proper person waiting to stand as surety on his behalf,” Norde stated. He ended by telling the court that they have “impressively convinced the court that bail should be granted.”
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple told the court that Wilkes had not shown all the appropriate circumstances required under the Bail Act to meet his bail conditions and that the state was opposed to his bail.
After listening to all parties, Magistrate Michael Laudat remanded the men at the State’s prison pending his decision on Monday, December 2, 2024.