Bail granted for former airport employees on cocaine charges

Western Bureau:

The three St James men who reportedly attempted to smuggle more than seven pounds of cocaine in nine meal packages while they were employed at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay were given new court dates when they appeared in the St James Parish Court earlier this week.

John Morris, 45, of Bogue Village; Jovan Palmer, 25, of Dunbar Boulevard; and Troy Lawrence, 22, of Tucker, are charged with possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export seven and one-quarter pounds of cocaine. Bail was extended for all three until July 6 when they are slated to re-appear in court.

The court was told that the forensic certificate was outstanding from the prosecution's case file and would not be ready for another month.

COPIES OF STATEMENTS

Meanwhile, attorney-at-law Dalton Reid, who is part of the men's defence team, asked for copies of statements which had been submitted to the prosecution. Parish Judge Sandria Wong-Small subsequently set the case for mention on July 6.

Allegations are that, on March 30, the police, acting on information, went to a section of the Sangster International Airport, where investigations led to the discovery of cocaine hidden inside nine meal packages aboard a flight destined for Birmingham, England.

Morris and Lawrence, who were employed to a catering company at the airport, and Palmer, who was employed as a security officer, were subsequently taken into custody and were later charged.