More than 20 local charges against five men accused of participating in an international cocaine trafficking ring have been dropped, prosecutors said in Magistrates’ Court Friday, announcing their intention to have the men extradited to the United States to face trial.
According to Senior Crown Counsel Natalie Sandiford, the US government recently made a new request to extradite Earl “Bob” Hodge, Chad Skelton, Carlston Beazer, Roberto Harrigan and Juan Valdez. New evidence has been submitted in the case, the Crown counsel said. She said the five men were issued extradition warrants this morning after Governor Boyd McCleary made a new “order to proceed,” giving the magistrate jurisdiction to move forward. Extradition hearings are scheduled to take place on Nov. 2.
Additionally, Director of Public Prosecutions Wayne Rajbansie submitted an order of discontinuance on the local charges against the men, he said in Magistrates’ Court today, though he did not detail the reasons why.
The five defendants are accused of participating in a 13-year conspiracy to transport thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Latin America through the Virgin Islands to the United States.
High Court Justice Albert Redhead ruled last month that a previous judgement to have the men extradited was “null and void” because the presiding magistrate had cited the wrong law in her decision.
See the Oct. 18 edition of the Beacon for full coverage,