Stacey Smith, a 43-year-old government security guard, was charged with possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply after police said they seized a cocaine stash worth $19 million from his house on Oct. 19. 

Mr. Smith was granted bail $80,000 with one signed surety in Magistrates’ Court last Thursday. 

The charges 

After Magistrate Khadeen Palmer read the charges against Mr. Smith, Crown Counsel Kristain Johnson read the allegations. 

The seizure occurred after police officers with the Special Investigations Team and Armed Response Unit executed a search warrant on Mr. Smith’s residence, Mr. Johnson read. 

“At the outset of the search, … [the accused] indicated he was in possession of illegal contraband,” Mr. Johnson alleged. 

Officers then searched the outside of Mr. Smith’s home and found seven bags containing bricks of a  white powder that they believed to be cocaine “in the garage area,” Mr. Johnson alleged.

When one of the detectives showed Mr. Smith the substance and asked him under caution what it was, the accused replied, “I think it is cocaine,” Mr. Johnson alleged. 

Arrest 

Mr. Smith was then cautioned that he was being arrested for possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply to another, but he made no response, the prosecutor read. 

Mr. Smith was then transported to the Road Town Police Station, where the drugs were weighed in his presence, according to Mr. Johnson. 

The prosecutor added that the drugs weighed 188.04 kilograms. 

During an interview under caution, Mr. Smith claimed that his friend had asked him to “secure the drugs for a period of time,” and that he was simply following his friend’s instructions and knew that the bags contained cocaine, Mr. Johnson read. 

After being served a copy of his charge, Mr. Smith made no reply, according to the prosecutor. While making an application for Mr. Smith’s bail, defence attorney Valerie Gordon said he has five children and strong ties to the territory, and he does not pose a flight risk. 

Ms. Gordon added that her client “will abide by any conditions that the court may impose and will attend court for his trial and will attend on each and every occasion required.” 

The prosecutor then suggested that Mr. Smith should be granted bail between $80,000 and $100,000, with a cash component ranging from $15,000 to $30,000, and be required to surrender travel documents and meet reporting requirements.  

Ms. Gordon argued that it was unreasonable for the court to impose such a large cash component, and asked that it be lowered to $10,000, but the magistrate disagreed. 

“Mr. Smith, I’m going to offer you bail in the sum of $80,000 plus one signed surety and a cash component of $15,000,” Ms. Palmer said. 

She also ordered the defendant to surrender his travel documents and report to the Road Town Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 6 a.m. and noon. 

The matter was adjourned until Nov. 30 for plea and reporting, Ms. Palmer said.