Local tricks ‘white’ cocaine buyer with baking soda, court hears
“It is baking soda. I broke and I was trying to make an easy $50 off this white dude.” — Accused.
A man who allegedly tried to sell baking soda as cocaine to a Caucasian buyer has been brought before the Magistrate’s Court on drug charges.
Sea Cow’s Bay resident Verne Forbes, Jr is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled drug, and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
The court heard that the charges stem from two separate incidents.
First incident
It is alleged that during the first incident, Forbes was a passenger in a vehicle police pulled over during a routine stop-and-search operation in Port Purcell last December.
But, as law enforcers attempted their search, Forbes allegedly leapt from the vehicle and ran away.
“Search who? Ayo ain’t searching me,” Forbes allegedly said as he ran.
However, police managed to corner and capture the accused who allegedly dumped a plastic bag before getting caught.
It is said law enforces retrieved the bag, and it allegedly contained 11 grams of cocaine.
Forbes was arrested and charged but received police bail sometime after.
The second incident
It is alleged that on April 7 this year, police again nabbed the 23-year-old accused during what they suspected was a drug transaction.
It is reported that Forbes was seen at a well-known restaurant and bar in Road Town around 11:20pm.
The court heard that Forbes was then seen entering a nearby parking lot with a Caucasian male, and they appeared to be acting suspiciously.
The court was told that law enforcers covertly approached both men.
But, after being alerted by the presence of police, Forbes allegedly threw a ‘white object’ in nearby bushes.
Police reportedly retrieved the object, which was found to be three dime bags containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.
“Officer, it belongs to me,” Forbes allegedly admitted.
“It is baking soda. I broke and I was trying to make an easy $50 off this white dude,” he reportedly added.
Forbes was subsequently arrested and charged.
Accused man gets bail
During his court appearance this week, Forbes said he is an expecting father who was in financial distress. He then admitted that his distress led him to sample the drug for the first time.
“I was out of work for a whole month and I didn’t have a mind for myself at the time,” he told the court.
While empathizing with Forbes’ plight, Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards offered him $40,000 signed bail.
“You’re going to get bail but you have to go to drug counselling,” Magistrate Richards told the accused.
He is scheduled to return to court on June 29.
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I hope the cocaine buyer was also arrested. It turned out to be baking soda but his intention was to buy cocaine; that seems like grounds for an arrest to me.
sounds correct, but is it he they really wanted, it wouldnt matter if the buyer was getting the real stuff
I can understand at the time of arrest the police thought that it was cocaine. Fine but that charge should have dropped since it was found to be baking soda. How can that charge of “possession” of a controlled drug stand still when in fact it was baking soda and not cocaine. Is baking soda a controlled drug now?
I can see the intent charge to supply but not the possession charge. If he has a good lawyer they can argue the “possession” charge and get off on that one. I really want to see how the Magistrate will rule on those two counts.
what about fraud? So it was an illegal substance but he surely committing a crime by selling a fake….? Interesting one.
How can you be charged with fraud if the activity is illegal?
Selling baking soda illegal? Since when?
“It is baking soda. I broke and I was trying to make an easy $50 off this white dude,” he [Forbes] reportedly added.
It seems that Forbes was arrested for alleged attempted fraud after he made that statement to police. But a thoughtful police officer would have arrested the buyer also, because he thought he was getting something in a bag that was not baking soda. At the very least, the buyer should have been taken to the station for questioning.
Have to look at both sides, and you can arrest for suspicion on reasonable grounds. Police officers need more training, or maybe we simply need brighter police officers.
The baking soda could have cause a bad reaction just like cocaine. Fake or real the intention was to sell a substance which can poison or cause harm to an individual and i think baking soda can do that if use wrong.
The alleged buyer might be lawyer. The BVI let lawyers go for drugs….. it could mess up their future. Lol BVI at it’s best!!
ARRESTED! he was a victim and he is White. They don’t go jail for drugs in the BVI. Have you ever seen a white man get randomly stopped and searchef by the police here?
Magistrates are weak on crime.
Without the buyers sellers would go broke!I have said for 25 years the tourists are the core cause of Drugs and Crime.
And the buyer??????
The police cannot assume that the person that the suspect was with was actually in talks to buy anything. They have no evidence as they never heard the actual conversation. If the alleged buyer was seen handling the coke and have fingerprints to prove that then they should charge the buyer.
Thanks.
I learned something
God bless his soul. Help him with whatever distress he is in. I see this young man on the street before and he is a quiet fellow.
cocaine is a hellova drug
Let us face reality this boy is a —- you better believe it
so i guess you can only buy baking soda from the shops and only during daylight hours…just saying
The seller better be glad he only got dragged into court, it could have turned out real messy.
Man I was out of work for two months and have kids to feed. Yeah I was stressed to the max but I never thought about trying nose candy or scamming people by selling them baking soda. That is a dangerous thing to do.
family tradition!
why u hating tho
This w—- b– R— R— need to stop dealing with d— and fake d— and look a steady job …
LOL!!!!
Arrest both of them.
when you live in glass house don’t throw stones. This too shall pass…..
Pookie yo dumb ms
just goes to show that stupid is colour blind
How it is in this supposedly free country peoples’ skin colour is so damn important?
How the hell people ever going to get along if every step of the way they are being distinguished as ‘caucasian’ or ‘black’ instead of what they are …. humans … some good, some bad, some smart some stupid, etc. etc.