GAIA employee accused of helping mechanic traffic drugs through airport

n employee of the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) has been remanded to Dodds Prison on charges related to facilitating drug crimes at that port of entry, including taking money to turn a blind eye to cocaine trafficking.

Norman Ricardo Worrell, of 1st Avenue, Jackson, St Michael, was not required to plead when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes to the charge that on September 23, he aided Chad Atherley, a mechanic at the airport, in the unlawful possession of cocaine.

Worrell, described as an agent of the GAIA, is also charged with aiding Atherley in possessing the drug with intent to supply and in trafficking it as well.

It is also alleged that the accused complied with and agreed to accept $1 000 from Atherley as an inducement to pass through the security checkpoint at the airport without being screened.

Station Sergeant Chrisna Williams referenced the Bail Act in objecting to bail, contending that Worrell could attempt to influence witnesses or destroy evidence, that his release would not be in the public’s interest or security, and that cocaine is a highly prevalent drug in Barbados.

The prosecutor asked the chief magistrate to consider that because of Worrell’s job description – which was not revealed – he has access to all areas of the airport, and there was the likelihood that evidence could be tampered with, concealed or destroyed.

But defence attorney Ken Mason argued that under the Bail Act, Worrell was entitled to bail, that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, that the prosecution had not presented any evidence to suggest his client would influence the outcome of the case, and that there was no disclosure from the police in this case.

“Must my client languish in jail until the police get [their] ducks in line?” Mason queried, adding that the charges were for aiding and not for the more serious offences of possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking.

The attorney also pointed out that Worrell had served in the army.

While accepting that the accused was presumed innocent until proven guilty, was entitled to bail, and that some of the charges were indictable and others not, Magistrate Weekes said he had to look at the overall allegations, which he described as extremely serious.

He also said the accused man was placed in a position of trust.

The chief magistrate then remanded Worrell to prison until October 28 when he will appear before the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court.

Atherley, 41, of Union Road, St Philip will also reappear in court on that date. He was denied bail when he appeared before Magistrate Weekes on Monday on charges of possession, possession with intent to supply, and trafficking 50 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $800 000. The offences allegedly occurred on September 23, while he was at the airport.