Hamilton man remanded
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – A male resident of Hamilton Village was yesterday (Dec. 24) remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison after admitting ownership to a quantity of cocaine and marijuana found aboard a docked vessel in Nevis.
A release from the Public Relations Unit of the St. Kitts and Nevis Customs and Excise Department stated that enforcement officers of the Department uncovered and seized stashes of illegal narcotics while conducting a routine search aboard cargo vessel M.V. Imani, which was docked at the Long Point Pier, Nevis on Thursday, December 23.
It noted that the officers had discovered the packages within which were a quantity of cocaine and marijuana taped under furniture in the crew quarters.
“The captain of the vessel and one crew member were detained and questioned. The crew member subsequently claimed the packages to be his. As a result, the crew member, a resident of Sandy Point, St. Kitts, has been formally charged with two counts under the Customs Act for the unlawful importation of prohibited or restricted goods with fraudulent intent to evade Customs,” the release said.
SKNVibes however contacted Inspector Andre Mitchell, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nevis Division, who informed that the crew member’s name is Bernel Warner and that he was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply to another, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to supply to another remanded to prison.
Mitchell also informed that Warner is originally from Hamilton Village, Nevis but currently resides in Sandy Point, St. Kitts, and was remanded to prison pending trial.
The release also stated that the combined estimated street value of the illegal drugs has a street value of over C$175 000 and if convicted, Warner may be fined at least EC$50 000 and/or a five-year imprisonment.
It also stated that the management of the Customs and Excise Department had commended the enforcement officers for their diligence shown in this recent find.
