TWO policemen, who were allegedly involved in a drug operation at the Tinson Pen Aerodrome in July this year, have been charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

The cops, Constable Jerome Constantine and Corporal Fabian Johnson of the Hunts Bay Police Station, have been charged with conspiracy to possess, dealing in and attempting to export drugs.

The two policemen appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday and were offered bail in the sum of $500,000 with one or two sureties. However, they had not taken up their bail offers and last night remained in police custody.

Seven civilians — Anton “BJ” Johnson, a Bahamian national accused of being the pilot of the Piper Navajo plane; Vincent Speed; Michael Nembhard; Kirk Chambers; Curtis Mendez; Barrington Anderson and Frederick Barnett — were slapped with drug-related charges in connection with the incident. All seven appeared in court yesterday and are scheduled to return to court later this month.

Johnson, who the police accused of being a drug kingpin, was remanded in custody. He has been in custody since he was arrested in mid-July. Johnson was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay a few days after the incident and whisked to Kingston under police guard.

On Saturday, July 13, police from the Narcotics Division went to the aerodrome after they got word that an aircraft was being loaded with contraband on the premises.

The police were allegedly fired on, but when they returned the gunfire persons who were allegedly loading the aircraft boarded it, after which the pilot quickly lifted off.

The two cops were implicated after the service vehicle which was assigned to them was found abandoned at the aerodrome after the shooting.