Drugs found with sweet treats

A Corporate Area businessman who is facing drug-related charges was offered bail in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Thursday.

Devon Thomas is charged on an indictment for three counts of possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, taking steps to export cocaine, conspiracy to export cocaine, possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, taking steps to export ganja and conspiracy to export ganja.

Prosecutors contend that, on four different occasions, Thomas attended the post office and shipped parcels containing soap, tea bags, and confectioneries including gizzada and peanut drops. When the packages were searched, they were found to contain a white powdery substance resembling cocaine and green vegetable matter resembling ganja.

Thomas is said to operate a business that provides care packages to persons overseas. The packages would include Jamaican snacks or other items made or sold on the island.

"What troubles the Crown is that, on each occasion, he did it four times, and, on each occasion, the packages were found to contain vegetable matter or white powdery substance," the prosecutor said.

"So he is a conduit," Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque argued.

"My concern is the seeming naivety, him just a send package suh," the judge continued further.

Thomas was offered bail in the sum of $900,000 with at least two sureties and was ordered to surrender his travel documents. A stop order was imposed and, as a condition of his bail, Thomas is not to engage in business that involves the use of a commercial courier. He is to report to the police four times weekly and is to surrender his travel documents.

The matter was adjourned until February 2, 2024.

- T.T.