Banking executive freed of charges in $85-million cocaine trial
ST JAMES, Jamaica— Banking executive Sheena Headley was freed of breaches of the Danger Drugs Act when she appeared in the St James Parish Court in Montego Bay, St James on Friday.
Headley, 38, was freed of all charges following a submission by her attorney, King’s Counsel (KC), Peter Champagnie.
She was charged with possession, dealing, trafficking and taking steps to export cocaine after the drug valued at approximately $85-million was reportedly found in the trunk of her Toyota Prado SUV during an operation.
Champagnie submitted that the prosecution had failed to demonstrate that his client had any knowledge of the cocaine that was discovered by the police in the trunk of her vehicle.
It is alleged that on June 15, 2022, about 6:00 pm, a team of officers from the Area One Narcotics Police Division carried out an operation at Headley’s home in Goodwill, St James. During the search, 10 rectangular-shaped packages were found in the trunk of the vehicle which belonged to Headley.
The packages were subsequently identified as cocaine weighing approximately 25 pounds. Following an interview session in the presence of her lawyer, Headley was arrested and charged.
Headley’s husband Chad was also arrested and charged after being named a person of interest in relation to the alleged cocaine seizure, but he was later freed of the charges.