MONTEGO BAY, St James — A 56-year-old exporter was granted $600,000 bail in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday after his attorney challenged the Crown’s objection, which was based on concerns about the safety of a key witness.

Roderick Spence is charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act in connection with a $71-million drug bust at Kingston Freeport Terminal on August 7 this year. However, on Wednesday he was appearing in connection with an incident that occurred in 2025. He was granted bail with up to three sureties. He is represented by King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson and Martyn Thomas.

The court heard that on March 23, 2025 the investigating officer received information concerning cargo at Sangster International Airport and subsequently conducted checks on the shipment.

According to the prosecution, 78 pieces of cardboard were found on the ground, along with syrup, boxed juice and other items. The investigating officer then inspected one of the boxes, in which cocaine was allegedly found.

The officer subsequently identified the business name on the shipment and made further checks to determine the registered owner of the company. A witness reportedly identified Spence as the owner.

He was subsequently arrested and charged.

On Wednesday, the prosecution referenced Spence’s most recent run-in with the law arising from the matter at the Kingston Freeport Terminal.

“The Crown is objecting to bail on the basis that there is a key witness in this matter who has provided a statement indicating certain things, and the Crown is concerned about the safety of that witness. It is likely that the accused may interfere with that witness. Also, based on his track record, the Crown is submitting that he has a propensity to commit these types of offences,” the court was told.

The judge questioned why Spence was only being charged, at this stage, for an incident that occurred in 2025. However, the investigating officer was said to be absent from court because of an emergency and was therefore unavailable to address the judge’s questions.

In his bail submission Tavares-Finson told the court that Spence operates a legitimate export company, and has been doing so for many years through Kingston and various ports across Jamaica.

“It’s not something that is unusual for him to do. He exports things out of Jamaica on a daily basis,” the attorney said.

Tavares-Finson further told the court that after the items were discovered in 2025, a determination was made at the time not to charge Spence because he was a legitimate exporter who regularly shipped various types of produce from Jamaica.

“It appears to us that the explanation given at the time was satisfactory. He has no track records other than a legitimate exporter of goods from Jamaica,” the defence lawyer said.

Tavares-Finson also argued that other exporters could find themselves in similar situations from time to time, given the nature of their legitimate business.

“There is nothing to link Mr Spence in the shipment beyond the fact that it was his company that was responsible for the shipment,” he insisted.

Following defence counsel’s submission, the judge asked the clerk for her position on the Crown’s concern about interference with the witness, having regard to the fact that more than a year had passed without any reported interference.

“I cannot say for certain that the witness is not in fear of their life,” replied the clerk who noted that she had not spoken to the witness.

The judge told the clerk that she was not in a position to say that the witness was in fear of Spence, given that he had only been charged about a year and a half after the alleged discovery of the cocaine.

She also noted that Spence had previously been questioned by police and, for whatever reason, was not charged at that time. The judge pointed out that it was only about a year and a half later, following an incident in Kingston, that the decision was made to charge him.

The judge further noted that the Crown was at a disadvantage because the investigating officer was absent and the clerk had only received the file on Wednesday morning. She said the clerk was therefore unable to address the matters raised by Tavares-Finson.

Spence was subsequently offered bail in the sum of $600,000 with up to three sureties. He was ordered to report to a specified police station on specified days and surrender his travel documents. Additionally, a stop order against him was placed at all ports.

He is scheduled to return to court on October 28.