TWO St Elizabeth men who were recently arrested following the seizure of 765 pounds of ganja off the coast of White House, Westmoreland, were both granted $500,000 bail when they appeared in the Westmoreland Parish Court.

Orlando Sangster, 39, a fisherman of Barbary Hall, and 21-year-old Renaldo Seaton, a labourer of Middle Quarters, were offered bail by Parish Judge Icolyn Reid last week Tuesday, following bail applications by their attorneys Shauna-Gay Mitchell and Herwin Smart, respectively.

The men were offered bail on condition that they report to the Black River Police Station on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Sangster and Seaton were arrested on May 3 with a Haitian, 39-year-old Guy Robert Joseph, a farmer from Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Montpelier, Westmoreland. However, the Haitian was remanded.

All three accused are charged with possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, taking steps preparatory to export ganja, use of conveyance, and conspiracy.

Joseph was also charged with illegal entry, as police said investigations have revealed that he arrived in the island 10 years ago by boat illegally.

The men were arrested by members of the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard while on a vessel off the coast of Westmoreland.

According to the Coast Guard, approximately 765 pounds of compressed marijuana were found in five packages that were thrown overboard and another 11 packages that were still on the vessel.

The illicit drug has an estimated street value of $3,048,000.

— Tanesha Mundle