Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
News
Observer Reporter  
January 14, 2004

Drug suspects’ release angers narcotics chief

Jamaica’s narcotics police chief yesterday expressed anger at Tuesday’s decision by a magistrate to free nine persons in a drug trafficking case, describing it as a triumph for drug runners.

“I am here wallowing in my disappointment,” Superintendent Carl Williams told the Observer. “This is a victory for the drug trafficking community.”

The nine persons – two of them cops – were released after the magistrate agreed with defence lawyers that prosecutors made errors in the indictment process and failed to provide enough evidence against the accused:

. Vincent Speed, 40;

. Curtis Mendez, 39;

. Frederick Barnett, 42;

. Barrington Anderson, 56;

. Kirk Chambers, 23; and

. Michael Nembhard, 30, all security guards, along with:

. Anton Johnson, a Bahamian whom police suspect to be a drug kingpin, were charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act after police foiled a suspected drug operation at the Tinson Pen Aerodrome in Kingston in July last year.

Two policemen – a corporal and a constable whom the police never named – were charged with conspiracy in the incident.

The Narcotics Police, obviously acting on information, said they were staking out a drug operation and saw persons loading packages onto a Piper Navajo aircraft at the aerodrome in the early morning hours of July 13. When they attempted to apprehend the suspects, shots were fired at them, allegedly by the two policemen, allowing the men to jump on the plane and escape.

A police service vehicle, which was assigned to the two cops, was found abandoned at the aerodrome after the raid.

During an exchange of gunfire, police bullets pierced the aircraft’s fuselage and Williams was reported to be have been injured in the incident when he took evasive action to avoid being shot.

About five hours later, the plane returned to the aerodrome and the suspects were reported to have left in motor vehicles. The aircraft was seized by the police and taken to the Norman Manley International Airport.

On July 16, Johnson, who was allegedly the pilot of the plane used in the incident, was arrested at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay and slapped with drug and aviation charges.

When the case came up in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, magistrate Kissock Laing upheld the defence’s argument that the prosecution had erred by outlining the allegations against the accused persons to the court before asking the court to serve indictments against them.

The prosecution’s case also hit a snag because no forensic certificate was provided to prove that the men were indeed trafficking in a banned substance. The defence also contended that no statement, either by the accused persons or independent witnesses, was presented to suggest that a drug operation was being carried out.

The technical errors forced the magistrate to throw out the case against the men, a decision that infuriated Superintendent Williams.

“The least they could have done was to listen to us,” he said yesterday. “We risked our lives.”

Although Johnson no longer has to face the drug charges, he has to return to court on January 20 to answer a charge of flying an aircraft without a licence.

In a court appearance last August, a charge of attempted murder against him was adjourned as the prosecution conceded that they did not have enough evidence to make a solid case.

The owners of the Piper Navajo aircraft used in the incident, Whirlwind Aviation Limited, will also have to return to court on January 20 when the court will hear an application by their attorney, Peter Champagnie, for the return of the plane.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

US doesn’t ‘have time for Ukraine’ because of Iran war— Zelensky
International News, Latest News
US doesn’t ‘have time for Ukraine’ because of Iran war— Zelensky
April 14, 2026
BERLIN, Germany(AFP)—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday told a German broadcaster that US peace negotiators "have no time for Ukraine" ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
MLSS seeks to clarify ROOFS disbursement process amid queries
Latest News, News
MLSS seeks to clarify ROOFS disbursement process amid queries
April 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) has moved to clarify that the distribution of grants under the Restoration of Ow...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Opposition MPs knock ROOFS programme, suggest victimisation
Latest News, News
Opposition MPs knock ROOFS programme, suggest victimisation
April 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Several Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) representing some of the parishes hardest-hit by Hurricane Melissa, took the Governme...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
New helmet standard targets road deaths
Latest News, News
New helmet standard targets road deaths
April 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Sydoney Preddie, lead for youth and education programme, JN Foundation, says Jamaica is losing billions of dollars annually due to m...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Reggae Girlz build cohesion in World Cup qualifiers
Latest News, News
Reggae Girlz build cohesion in World Cup qualifiers
April 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaica’s national senior women’s football team, the ‘Reggae Girlz’, are continuing to build cohesion and sharpen their execution as...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Alleged Jamaican gangster facing charges after dragging Florida trooper with car
International News, Latest News
Alleged Jamaican gangster facing charges after dragging Florida trooper with car
April 14, 2026
An alleged gangster who is wanted in relation to murder in Jamaica was arrested during a targeted vehicle stop by law enforcement officers in Florida,...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica launches Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy to boost tourism product
Latest News, News
Jamaica launches Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy to boost tourism product
April 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—More than five years in the making, Jamaica’s Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy (DAFS) document was tabled in the House o...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaican dancehall artiste received $118 million via TikTok from Canadian non-profit exec, lawsuit claims
Latest News, News
Jamaican dancehall artiste received $118 million via TikTok from Canadian non-profit exec, lawsuit claims
April 14, 2026
A Jamaican dancehall artiste reportedly received more than US$750,000 ($118 million) in PayPal transfers from a former Canadian non-profit executive a...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct