Adrian Arthur received eight years in prison for his involvment in a drug bust made by police in October 2012. Photo: VINO/File

Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards said the defendant had admitted his role in the crime from the interception and had even showed police where the marijuana was hidden on the vessel.

She also stated that there was no notional sentence for the crime in this instance since a drug find of this magnitude had not been made prior to this case.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison on the charges of supplying or offering to supply a controlled substance, importation of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of a controlled drug; six months in prison for illegal entry and 30 months for possession of a controlled drug.

The sentences are to run concurrently and from the first date of remand.

See previous story posted May 16, 2013:

Bajan in $5M ganja bust ready to 'do some time'!

- pleads guilty

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – A second person pleaded guilty today, May 16, 2013 before the Magistrate’s court in relation to a police drug bust made in October, 2012 involving three men.

“I came here this morning with all the intention to plead guilty and start do some time,” Adrian Arthur, 47, told the court.

When asked by Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards if he understood the meaning of the word guilty, he replied, “[It means] I was involved, I was there… and I’ll do the necessary…”

After offering a not guilty plea at his first arraignment, Arthur pleaded guilty today to illegal entry in addition to joint charges of supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug; possession of a controlled drug; importation or being concerned in the importation of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of a controlled drug.

The defendant is jointly charged with Glenroy Pierre and Ralph James who was the alleged captain of the vessel. James pleaded guilty earlier to all of the charges with the exception of illegal entry. The cannabis found reportedly has a street value of $5,617,800.

In mitigation on his behalf, Arthur told the court that he apologised to the people of the Virgin Islands, the government and the Magistrate for his actions.

The former soldier repeated the claim that it was not his intention to end up in BVI waters, but this only happened due to the circumstances that occurred after the vessel the trio were sailing on suffered an engine failure.

The defendant told the court that he was trying to get back to Barbados to see his three children, and had sought a ride with his accomplices. “I basically took the opportunity to take a ride home with these guys,”

He told the Magistrate that he was dishonourably discharged from the Barbados armed forces after he had made several attempts to seek compassionate leave to see his ailing mother. He then alleged that he was dismissed from the army upon his return to the island.

Arthur said he held several jobs but kept losing them after persons revealed his military history to his employers. He added that he did not have robberies or dead people against his conscience.

The defendant admitted he had made some poor decisions over the years and told the court, “When you mix with the dogs, you’re going to catch fleas and I catch the people’s fleas.”

Arthur will return to court on May 31 for sentencing.

Allegations:

Previously, Principal Crown Counsel Ms Tiffany Scatliffe had told the court that when the men were discovered with the items, Officers asked whether there was anything illegal aboard the vessel and Arthur allegedly replied, “Marijuana... plenty… about a thousand pounds!”

Principal Crown Counsel Tiffany Scatliffe in relating the allegations said that on October 25, 2012 around 2:45 P.M. Detective Constable Primo along with other members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force were conducting patrols along the north of Tortola and encountered a 50-foot sloop (sailing vessel) about 14.4 miles off the south of Anegada.

Officers came upon the vessel which was not flying the red ensign or any other territorial flag and a check was made with Her Majesty’s Customs and they confirmed that the said vessel had not obtained or applied for a clearance from Customs or Immigration.

Police, upon receiving that information used their sirens to bring the boat to a stop and the boat complied. Police boarded the vessel and introduced themselves while the men aboard the vessel identified themselves as the above-named accused.

The court heard that the officers then enquired as to how long they were in the territory to which the responded by saying a few days. They were then asked about whether an application for clearance was made and Arthur allegedly responded in the negative. The men were then cautioned and told that this was an offence at which point they were then arrested for illegal entry.

Police subsequently asked the men whether anything illegal was aboard the vessel and cautioned the men. It was at this point that Arthur allegedly said yes and told the officers afterwards “Marijuana… plenty… about a thousand pounds.”

He was then invited to show Police the location of the alleged drug. Police reportedly videotaped the proceedings.

Ms Scatliffe then told the court that drugs were allegedly found stuffed all over the vessel including the lavatory and were reportedly in crocus bags. The crocus bags were said to contain smaller bags of vegetable matter which was suspected to be cannabis.

The vessel was then towed to the marine base and photos were taken of what was discovered.

The court was also told that On August 31, 2012 the accused were on the said vessel in Antigua and requested clearance from St Martin to go to Jamaica. About two weeks ago they allegedly left Jamaica with their final destination being Antigua.

Meanwhile, when the men were discovered in the territory by the patrol group, it was alleged that they had ran out of fuel and were experiencing mechanical difficulties. When the men were intercepted they were trying to conduct repairs to the vessel.

Ms Scatliffe told the court that an audio visual interview was conducted with the accused (James) and he allegedly told the officers that he went to Tobago and was invited to go to Jamaica for the purpose of buying marijuana on August 10, 2012.

He met with a person(s) in Antigua on a vessel called the Grey’s Quest and on August 31, 2012 he went with the co-accused to Jamaica from St Martin, to collect Marijuana and they were on their way back to Antigua, when during the travels, it was discovered that the vessel ran out of gas and they were also experiencing mechanical problems at the same time which prevented them from sailing. She further alleged that one of the men had claimed that they arrived a few days before October 25, and were drifting.