Dutch man caught with over $28m worth of cocaine remanded
ST JAMES, Jamaica — A Dutch man, who was reportedly held with cocaine worth over $28 million at the Sangster International Airport, will need to acclimate to the confines of the Freeport lock-up due to his lack of connections in Jamaica.
Patrick Anthony Crawford, a 44-year-old carpenter/construction worker of Rotherdam Holland, is charged with possession of, dealing in, attempting to export and conspiracy to export cocaine.
He made his first appearance in the St James Parish Court on Monday, before presiding Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton.
During Monday’s hearing, Crawford’s lawyer Henry McCurdy, decided against seeking bail due to the fact that his client is not a citizen of Jamaica and has no ties to the island.
As a result, the judge remanded Crawford in custody until June 10, when the case returns to court.
According to the allegations, on May 9 about 5:00 pm, Crawford was in a queue waiting to be checked in on a TUI flight destined for Brussels, Belgium when he was questioned and his luggage inspected.
During the search of his carry-on luggage, four rectangular packages were discovered in two hidden compartments made of carbon paper and transparent plastic. These packages allegedly contained a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine.
A subsequent search of his checked baggage also revealed two hidden compartments containing four packages similar in appearance and content to those found in his carry-on luggage. The total weight of the illicit substance found in both pieces of luggage is estimated to be around 13.5 pounds.
He was arrested and charged.