By Racquel Porter
A Latvian national and a female security officer, who are charged in connection with a suspected drug trafficking ring operating from Norman Manley International Airport, have been further remanded until Thursday for the verification of their address.
Thirty-two-year-old Terica Millwood and 30-year-old Rihards Upenieks, a customer service manager from Riga, Latvia, were remanded following a part heard bail application on Tuesday by their attorneys Peter Champagnie KC and Alexander Shaw.
Miss Millwood and Mr. Upenieks were arrested and charged with conspiracy to export 4.4 kilograms of cocaine to England.
Mr. Upenieks is also charged with possession of, dealing in and attempting to export cocaine.
During the bail application in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court, Mr. Champagnie disclosed that his client, a software service provider, works remotely, and as such, travels to warmer climates during the frigid winter months.
In urging the court to offer him bail, Mr. Champagnie argued that his client was returning home when his friend asked him to purchase liquor.
The court heard that Miss Millwood, whose job description says she is a scan machine image interpreter, allowed her co-accused access without scrutiny.
The court was told that the Latvian purchased the liquor from a store in New Kingston, brought the receipt to the airport and was given the product when he was about to check-in.
Mr. Champagnie argued that when his client was arrested, he said they must have given him the wrong package and that he had only seen those kinds of things in movies.
The attorney told Senior Parish Court Judge Paula Blake-Powell that his client was originally questioned as a witness, then later arrested and charged.
He added that his client's wife, who resides in Texas and was in court, rented a property for him to stay if he was granted bail.
A receipt detailing the rental deposit and address was presented to the court.
Attorney Alexander Shaw argued that Ms. Millwood, who has been working as a security guard at the airport for seven years, does not know her co-accused.
Noting that his client is a fit and proper candidate for bail, he said the mother of two has no previous conviction.
The court was told that the cocaine is valued at US$3,800.
The clerk of court said if the substance was transported to England, it would then be worth £70,000 per kilogram, totalling approximately £300,000.
Investigators believe Ms. Millwood conspired with Mr. Upenieks in an attempt to facilitate the smuggling of the cocaine through the airport.
The police say there is a possibility that other people will be charged in relation to the suspected drug ring.
