Cabbie on drug charge

A taxi driver who tried to export 89 pendants that he claimed he found in his cab is now in trouble with the law after it was found that the trinkets contained white powdery substance resembling cocaine.

Kenrick Edwards, 44, has been charged under the Dangerous Drugs Act for possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, attempting to export cocaine and conspiracy to export cocaine. His attorney, Vanessa Taylor, told Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday that her client is not ready to enter a plea.

The court heard that on March 12, Edwards visited a courier service company in downtown Kingston where he attempted to export one yellow carton containing a dress, a merino, a cap, a tam, a shorts, three chains, three pairs of earrings, three bracelets and 89 pendants.

The pendants were found to contain white powdery substance resembling cocaine. The substance was said to weigh 4.8 ounces.

The court heard that when Edwards was questioned by police, he told them that he packed the parcel by himself. Police asked him where he got the items from he said, "Me buy everything a craft market down a town, except the pendant. Me find the pendant inna mi taxi".

He was offered bail in the sum of $300,000 with one or two sureties and has been ordered to report to the Rockfort Police Station twice per week. A stop order was also imposed and he was ordered to surrender his passport.

Edwards is to return to court October 7.