After being arrested following a joint operation with Her Majesty’s Customs and United States Customs and Border Protection in February 2016, Tarik Aaron was convicted on May 4 of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, according to a Tuesday press release from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards handed down the verdict after a trial following Mr. Aaron’s not-guilty plea, according to the ODPP.
The office stated that Mr. Aaron was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison ahead of his June 8 sentencing, adding that he was represented during the trial by attorneys at PST Law, who on Tuesday declined to comment.
“The matter was delayed as a result of the 2017 hurricanes that destroyed court facilities and the [Covid-19] pandemic, which has hindered the progress of criminal trials,” the ODPP added.
Allegations
According to the ODPP, “Mr. Aaron and another per-son were apprehended following hot pursuit of Mr. Aaron’s vessel” by the VI and US authorities on Feb. 2, 2016.
“Law enforcement retrieved the discarded items from the water, and forensic testing confirmed that the items retrieved from the water were connected to some of the items recovered from Mr. Aaron’s vessel,” the press release alleged.
A total of 27 kilograms of cocaine worth some $2.7 million was recovered during the operation, according to the ODPP.