SIX men implicated in the recent seizure of 2,800 pounds of ganja in the Eastern Caribbean were again denied bail when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The six, who include the owner of the vessel — 44-year-old businessman Byron Forrest — were taken into custody and charged following an August 31 raid on a vessel in which the illegal drug was allegedly found.

Charged with possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, exporting ganja, conspiracy to export ganja and trafficking ganja are: Robert Lindsay, otherwise known as ‘Robbie’, a chef of Nannyville Gardens, St Andrew; Stephen Watt, of Mountainside, St Elizabeth; Owen Dunkley, 46, otherwise known as ‘Egg Head’, of Black River, St Elizabeth; Anthony Williams, 56, otherwise called ‘Lara’, of Lacovia, St Elizabeth; and Bernard Knight, 49, otherwise known as ‘Powder’, of Parottee District, St Elizabeth.

According to the police, the ganja was found during a joint operation involving members of the Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division and officials from the United States Coast Guard and the British Navy.

Five Jamaican fishermen and two Guyanese men were reportedly onboard the vessel when it was intercepted by the police team. It is alleged that cash amounting to over US$2,000 was among the items seized. Forrest was later arrested and charged.

On Wednesday, Forest’s attorney Tom Tavares-Finson maintained his client’s innocence. The attorney said that his client had leased the boat to the two Guyanese nationals who were on the vessel. Tavares-Finson also told the court that his client had signed out the boat with the coast guard and that if he had any criminal intention, he would not have done so.

But the prosecutor countered saying that Forrest was aware of the plan and that the police have seized five cellular phones from him and are in possession of text evidence.

Attorneys Courtney Maxwell, Earl Delisser and Nadine Flowers, who represent the other accused, also maintain their clients’ innocence, claiming that the prosecution will have difficulty in making a link between their clients and the crime.

But the prosecutor, who along with the police objected to bail, told the court that the men were caught on camera throwing the drugs overboard.

The men were subsequently refused bail by Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey and are to return to court on October 31.