Retired British nurse on cocaine charge remanded

Loran Bartley, a retired British nurse who was reportedly caught trying to smuggle 11 pounds of cocaine on to a flight destined for England, has been remanded until tomorrow, following his first appearance in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Bartley, 59, of Birmingham, England, is charged with possession, dealing, attempting to export, and conspiracy to export cocaine. He did not enter a plea when he appeared before presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Ashley. Attorney-at-law Shelly-Ann Hyman, who is representing Bartley, asked for the adjournment to Friday as she wanted to get a clearer idea of what her client's potential sentence would look like "as I know my client is suffering from a range of illnesses". Subsequently, Judge Ashley ordered that Bartley should be remanded, and that he should submit his fingerprints to the police.

The allegations are that on May 6, Bartley checked in at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, to board a flight to Birmingham. During a routine security check of his luggage, it was discovered that his carry-on bag and suitcase had false compartments. When they were checked, a white powdery substance resembling cocaine was found. Under caution, Bartley reportedly said, "I don't know, that is how I brought the suitcase from Birmingham." He was subsequently arrested and charged.

Bartley was one of three persons who were arrested on May 6 on allegations of cocaine smuggling, where cocaine estimated to value a combined $58 million was seized.

The other two individuals are Luke Bradly, a 37-year-old construction director, and 49-year-old Burthland Hodges, both of Erdington addresses in Birmingham. Bradley was reportedly held with five kilograms of cocaine while checking in to board the same flight as Bartley, while Hodges was arrested in St Ann on suspicion of collaborating with Bartley.

Over the past few weeks, several British nationals have been held in connection to cocaine smuggling, with the amount of cocaine seized valuing approximately J$100 million.