Four prominent Montego Bay men are to appear in a Broward county, Florida court today to answer to immigration and drug trafficking charges after they were arrested in a big marijuana bust last Friday.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest of the four men:

. Richard Rouse, 27;

. Phillip Rankine, 30, son of a popular Montego Bay businessman;

. Dean Drummond, 32, of Danga Zone Promotions, which stages the annual Springfest show in Montego Bay; and

. Francis Young, 34, otherwise called Deon, who was implicated in a party boat shooting incident in Montego Bay two years ago.

According to court documents, Rankine and Rouse were “observed in what appeared to be a parking lot narcotics transaction”.

Rankine’s motor vehicle was stopped at State Road 84 and Hiatus Road, Davie, Florida.

“A narcotics detective canine was deployed on the vehicle and a positive alert was obtained. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 100 pounds of marijuana. Field tested positive. The defendant admitted, post-miranda, to be transporting drugs for monetary gain,” one court document said.

The Broward sheriffs then went to Rouse’s house where they allegedly found another 400 pounds of the weed. The men then led the sheriffs to Drummond and Young who were both taken into custody and later charged.

Young was reportedly living in the country under the name Alberto Jenskins.

All four men are facing immigration violation charges, while Drummond and Young are also charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana.

The men, the Observer was told, were offered US$75,000 bail when they appeared in court on Saturday, but were unable to accept because of the immigration violation charges.