Accused cocaine traffickers denied bail! Faces up 10 years if convicted

The two men accused of illegal possession with intent to supply more than 400 kilograms of cocaine were denied bail when they appeared before the Magistrate’s Court earlier today.

Pedro Samuel Sr, 58, of Diamond Estate and Reno Alphonso, 27, of Fort Hill were both charged with possession of a controlled and possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

Alphonso — the alleged boat captain — was also charged with failure to comply with orders given by the police.

In consideration of the bail application made by both attorneys representing the accused, Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin said she had to consider all variables in the matter. She noted that while both men were Virgin Islanders and had their roots in the territory, the severity of the offence and the likelihood of conviction with the accompanying sentence could result in the men absconding if granted bail.

“To give a bail offer and to make the consideration so strenuous that a defendant cannot make a bail offer is just as good as making no bail offer at all. So, taking all of my options into consideration. When I consider this particular case that has been presented before the court, I am of the opinion that there are no conditions that this court can put in place to amount to a reasonable bail offer for these defendants,” Benjamin said.