Vivian Dennis, a 75-year-old retired construction worker and Michael Dawkins, farmer of St Elizabeth, are each facing charges of possession, dealing

Jamaican-born British national, Vivian Dennis, a 75-year-old retired construction worker and Michael Dawkins, farmer of St Elizabeth, are each facing charges of possession, dealing and attempting to exporting cocaine. Dawkins also has to answer an additional charge of conspiracy. The court heard that on October 11, Dennis had boarded a flight to London, England, at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, and was later summoned to the Narcotics Office. There he identified bags that had been taken to the office during routine luggage checks. He identified the luggage as his and used keys in his possession to open it. Four bottles labelled magnum and three bottles labelled Red Label wine were taken from a black bag all of which contained cocaine in the liquid form. Dennis told the police that it was Dawkins who gave it to him. Dawkins was subsequently called to the airport and was arrested and charged. Defence attorney Trevor Ho-Lyn, who represented Dennis, said that his client has carried back liquor for the accused before, and thought nothing was amiss when he was again asked to take back the bottles of what he thought were genuine liquors. He said his client has an unblemished record and would never get involved in this type of criminal activity. However, RM Henry denied bail saying that based on the information conveyed to the court, it would appear that both men were involved in the attempt to smuggle drugs and Dennis could be a flight risk.
Attorney Dalton Reid also said his client, Dawkins, had nothing to do with the drugs and said that it would have been stupid of his client to return to the airport knowing he had placed drugs in Dennis' suitcase. He argued that his client's actions shows that he could not have been involved. The men are scheduled to return to court on November 4. In the meantime, the substance is to be analysed at the government forensic laboratory.