Nearly $2M worth of cocaine | J’can answers to charges

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has reported that the street value of the drugs recently found in luggage belonging to Jamaican visitor Jillany Mullings is $1,590,000.

Local law enforcement reportedly held Mullings nearly a month ago trying to smuggle more than 15 kilograms of cocaine through the Terrence B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island.

During his second appearance in the Magistrate’s Court recently, Mullings pleaded guilty to importation of cocaine but not guilty offering to supply the drug.

The 22-year-old will return to court.

The Prosecution’s case

In the meantime, it is alleged that the accused man arrived in the territory ahead of his luggage on April 14.

It is reported that Mullings returned to the airport on April 18 to collect his five suitcases, which had been in transit.

The court heard that while conducting a routine inspection of the luggage, Customs Officers noticed a white powdery substance seeping from one of the suitcases.

Further checks allegedly uncovered a relatively large quantity of the substance wrapped in carbon paper and concealed in the lining of the suitcase.

Mullings was subsequently detained and police summoned.

The drugs amounted to 15.9 kilograms, the court heard.

During a police interview sometime after, the accused man allegedly admitted to being aware of transporting the illicit substance.

He reportedly told police he imported the drugs for ‘personal reasons’.