MONTEGO BAY, St James — A Jamaica Union of Travellers Association driver, who was arrested following the seizure of more than 40 pounds of cocaine, was granted bail in the amount of $1.5 million on his first appearance in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Christopher Keddo, 51, from Little London in Westmoreland, is charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act. He is being represented by attorneys-at-law Chrishana Fregenette and Martyn Thomas.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers went to a location in Rose Hall, St James, on January 6 in response to intelligence received. While there, they noticed the defendant sitting next to a Hiace bus.

Allegations are that the police searched inside the bus and discovered 17 parcels containing cocaine weighing approximately 42 pounds. Keddo was subsequently arrested and charged.

After the allegations were outlined in court, presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce enquired of the court clerk about the evidence linking Keddo to the bus. The clerk stated that the defendant had admitted to being the driver of the bus and had been tasked with delivering the items to a specific location in Trelawny.

During the bail hearing, Fregenette stated that her client denies the allegations and that the defence has received different instructions, which resulted in a decision to proceed with a trial. As a condition of Keddo’s $1.5-million bail, judge Grant-Pryce mandated that he report to a specific police station on specific days, and for a stop order to be placed at all ports.

Keddo is scheduled to return to court on March 31.