News

Men charged with wharf ammo find remanded until July

THREE MEN CHARGED for the large ammunition find at the Kingston Wharves in February have been remanded in custody until July 18 when the case will be mentioned.

The accused, Hugh Richards, 38, customs broker clerk, of West Bay, Portmore, St. Catherine; Clinton Edwards, 44, clerk of Rodney Street, Kingston 12 and Andrew Brown, 32, of Parkway Drive, Spanish Town, St. Catherine appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

A trial date is expected to be named at the next mention date. The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) representative said that they had not finished gathering all of the evidence and would require additional time. Presiding Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle consented and set the mention date.

The men were charged with conspiracy to deceive and conspiracy to import guns and ammunition into the island after a total of 16 guns and 800 assorted rounds of ammunition were found on February 15.

Allegations are that on February 15 at approximately 2 p.m., a senior customs officer checked a container of food at the wharves for contraband. A false compartment was found at the bottom of the container. When the customs officer went to get a crowbar to open the compartment, Brown, who had been on the scene to clear the shipment, got a phone call and ran from the scene. A total of 16 guns and 800 rounds of ammunition were found.

Pay for shipment

The Crown is alleging that Brown got instruction from Edwards and Richards to pay for the shipment. They stated that Richards was seen giving Brown $12,000 earlier that day near to the wharves. An independent witness saw Edwards speaking with Richards.

Edwards and Richards are charged with 24 counts of conspiracy to deceive and conspiracy to import guns and ammunition. Brown is charged with 42 counts of conspiracy to deceive, making false declaration and uttering false documents in an attempt to obtain a package with guns and ammunition. He is also charged with conspiracy to import firearms and ammunition into the island.