MAY 08

Chief Magistrate Patricia Mark has ruled in favour of the extradition to the United States of four Grenadian men accused of conspiracy to traffic and the trafficking of several quantities of Cocaine across international borders into the United States.

The suspects - Ralph "Fatman" Blackman, Ricardo "Ricky" Lewis, Devon "Dappa" Thomas and Andrew "Snoop" Mc. Burnie have been remanded in custody at the Richmond Hill prison awaiting their extradition.

The Magistrate's decision to grant the extradition came at the close of the Prosecution's case and a "no case" submission made by a team of defense lawyers.

It came nearly six months after the suspects were picked up by local police at the request of the US government for Grenada to surrender the men to face criminal trial for drug trafficking and conspiracy. In speaking to GRENADA TODAY, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson said that the four locals were sought by the U.S Government under an extradition treaty which was signed by St. George's and Washington in May 1996 and subsequently made law in Grenada in 2001.

Nelson stated that under the treaty Grenada or the US could prosecute anyone who is or has been involved in drug trafficking in either country. The defendants have been charged in the U.S with conspiracy to traffic and trafficking of a controlled drug (Cocaine).
If convicted of either charge, they can face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison.

According to the DPP, the case against the suspects, involves a series of transactions, mainly the smuggling of several small packages of Cocaine in Fed Ex packages and suitcases over a period of time. Nelson said the US was able to have jurisdiction in the matter due to the quantity of drugs involved which was in excess of more than five kilos.

He also said it is believed that during the time the suspects were allegedly smuggling the Cocaine to the US, several packages went un-noticed but that a significant amount were intercepted.

It is understood that an undercover officer of the U.S Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA) made several trips to Grenada posing as a drug dealer and was successful in exposing the drug ring. The Magistrate has reminded the suspects of their right to appeal the decision to extradite them to the U.S for trial.

One of the defense lawyers involved in the case, Anslem Clouden, said that the attorneys intend to appeal against the Magistrate's decision by way of "Habeas Corpus with certiorari". He noted that after defense counsel, Dr. Francis Alexis had completed the "no case submission" that the presiding Magistrate proceeded to commit the suspects to prison to await their extradition.

Clouden said after the Magistrate made her pronouncements, he had informed her that she erred in law by not informing the suspects that they had a right to call witnesses or speak in their defense.

He spoke of the defense taking the necessary legal steps to ask the High Court to quash the decision of Magistrate Mark and to release the four men. Clouden also said that the case brought against the suspects had several defects and as such the defense was very confident of being successful in their appeal and to get the men freed.

The defense has fifteen days to file an appeal against the magistrate's decision. Failing this, Foreign and Legal Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod will then have to sign the extradition order and surrender the suspects to the U.S authorities for their trial.