FROM left, Andrew Pratt, Adrian Mackey and Omar Chisholm. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
THREE men accused of illegally smuggling drugs into the country in connection with a $3m drug seizure in the Exuma cays earlier this week were yesterday denied bail ahead of their trial.
Omar Chisholm, 42, Andrew Pratt, 37, and Adrian Mackey, 37, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes accused of conspiring to possess a quantity of Indian hemp sometime between September 17 and 21. The prosecution alleged the men had plans to sell the drugs found in their possession.
During the arraignment, the men were also charged with one count each of marijuana possession with the intent to supply, conspiracy to import dangerous drugs, and importing a quantity of marijuana into the country on September 21.
The prosecution further argued the defendants assaulted three officers with a white twin engine boat and accused them of causing harm to Sergeant 2009 Newton when officers approached them that day.
According to police reports, members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, US Coast Guard and other American agencies launched a joint operation on Monday morning.
That day, a team was conducting surveillance along the Ragged Island chain, when they came upon a speed boat with four occupants on board. The vessel was asked to stop, however the captain failed to comply and a chase followed.
Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said a police boat was launched from Exuma to intercept the vessel. He said the chase lasted “roughly one hour and 15 minutes” and ended in Barraterre, Exuma where the defendants rammed the police boat in an effort to escape. One police officer was injured during the encounter.
During the hearing, Chisholm, Pratt and Mackey denied all of the allegations brought against them and the case was adjourned to February 25, 2021 for trial.
Due to the nature of the charges, the men were denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until that time.
They all have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
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