Narcops investigate ackee exporter

Rochester

NARCOTICS POLICEMEN from Montego Bay, aided by sniffer dogs, spent hours yesterday carrying out investigations at the Southern Fruits and Food Processors plant in Bull Savannah, St. Elizabeth, in relation to a recent cocaine find at the Sir Donald Sangster Inter-national Airport.

The search is linked to the arrest of Government pathologist Audley Hamilton and two of his employees on cocaine charges on Monday. They were remanded in custody when they faced the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday.

Dr. Hamilton, 35, Dave Channer, a 40-year-old truck driver and Michael Reynolds, a 24-year-old handyman, all of 46 West Street in Black River, St. Elizabeth, have been jointly charged with possession of, dealing in and taking steps to export cocaine.

The cocaine was found by security personnel at the Sir Donald Sangster International Airport in 160 tins of ackee and carrot juice bound for Canada. The tins bore the label, "Village Pride," which is the label carried by products from Southern Fruits and Food Processors.

Managing director of the Company, Derrick Rochester, PNP M.P. for South East St. Elizabeth and a former junior minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed last night that "detectives" from the narcotics division were at the plant, "from morning," investigating the matter. However, Mr. Rochester said that "due to the delicate nature of the matter," he would make no further comment.

Southern Fruits and Food Processors produces canned ackees, mangoes, Ketch-up, callaloo and other products for export. Mr. Rochester is a member of a shareholding group which took over the beleaguered company in 1989.

Yesterday, lawyers representing Dr. Hamilton and Channer, applied to Resident Magistrate Paulette Williams for bail, but the police objected, on the grounds that their investigations were continuing and were at a delicate stage. Yes-terday was the second time that they were remanded in custody since their arrest on Monday. The three are to return to court next Thursday.

The Montego Bay police re-ported that at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Dr. Hamilton, who is the holder of an exporter's licence, is alleged to have sent Channer and Reynolds with a shipment of canned products to the Air Jamaica cargo area at the Sangster International Airport.

Police said that the truck contained 160 boxes, each containing 12 tins of ackee and carrot juice. Security personnel checked one of the tins and discovered a white liquid substance resembling cocaine inside.

Channer and Reynolds were taken into custody. Following investigations, Dr. Hamilton was picked up in St. Elizabeth and escorted to Montego Bay, where he was officially charged.

Dr. Hamilton, who is also a private practitioner is being represented by attorney-at-law Headley Cunningham. Defence lawyer Michael Clarke appeared for Channer, while Reynolds was unrepresented. Meanwhile, the truck has been seized and all the canned products have been sent to the forensic laboratory in Kingston for further tests to be carried out.

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