$3 m drug bust

Under the watchful eye of armed police and other officers, Colombian Oswaldo Rafael Acosta Aroca, who is accused of entering Barbados illegally with almost $3.4 million worth of marijuana, made his first appearance in court on Wednesday afternoon.

About 15 minutes after appearing before Magistrate Douglas Frederick, the 58-year-old driver from No. 20 De Octubre, Santa Marta, Colombia was escorted out of the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court at Horse Hill, St Joseph, in the same manner, having been remanded to Dodds prison for the next 28 days.

Aroca was not required to plead to any of his five charges as the alleged offences are indictable and can only be adjudicated before a judge and jury.

With the Colombian following the proceedings through an interpreter, Magistrate Frederick read the charges to him, including possession of cannabis, trafficking of the drug, and having intent to supply it, on August 2.

He is also accused of arriving in Barbados by sea and disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer and entering the country other than at a port of entry. These two charges are alleged to have been committed between July 29 and August 2.

In making submissions against bail, Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls told the court that the drugs weighed 422.66 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value of $3 381 280.

The Station Sergeant said based on the alleged quantum and value of the drugs, the prosecution was objecting to bail for the accused due to the “extremely serious nature” of the charges.

“The allegations are that the accused entered Barbados without lawful authority. Therefore, we believe that if he were to be granted bail it was highly likely that he would attempt to leave our shores and fail to appear in court at the appointed time and . . . place,” the prosecutor submitted.

“We view him as a serious flight risk.”

Carter-Nicholls added that the accused was a non-national with no known social ties to Barbados.

In response, Aroca’s lawyer Shadia Simpson told the court that she did not intend to make an application for bail at this time. However, through the court, she put the prosecution on notice that she was seeking disclosure.

“We are asking as far as possible to have the matter expedited and we are asking for disclosure to be served at the earliest possible time,” the defence attorney submitted before her client was remanded to Dodds.

Aroca is set to make his second appearance before the court on September 7.