THE FIVE men held in connection with last Tuesday's record cocaine bust were charged last night.
District Constable Phillip Roberts of 100 Ocean Drive, Hellshire, St. Catherine, Roy Alveranga of 26 Tunbridge Drive, St. Andrew, Leonard Forbes, a.k.a Leonardo Gonzalaz Forbes of Corn Island, North Point, Nicaragua, Pedro Cardona, a.k.a. Unilver Pineola Cardona of Herveo Tolima, Colombia, and Colombian Carl da Costa, address unknown, now find themselves facing a multitude of charges for their reported involvement in the illegal shipment.
The charges facing the five men under the Dangerous Drugs Act include possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, importing cocaine, trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to import cocaine. The three foreign nationals have been charged with illegal landing in breach of the Aliens Act.
The men also face charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, illegal importation of firearms and ammunition and conspiracy to import ammunition and firearms.
Superintendent Gladston Wright of the Narcotics Division explained last night that investigations are still continuing into the bust that saw 3,395 lb of cocaine seized at Port Royal after a joint operation involving Jamaican and Colombian security forces. The haul is the largest cocaine bust in Jamaican history with a street value of US$12.3 million.
