Lance Small faces extradition to US

NEARLY three years ago, Lance Small’s name was called in judicial proceedings at the Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was named as a co-conspirator to export 60 AK-47 rifles, ten Mac-ten machine guns, and ten machine gun silencers to Trinidad. Small was one of the 114 members of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen who were charged with treason, murder and other offences arising out of the July 27,1990 attempted coup. They were freed after the judge held that they were the recipients of a Presidential amnesty. Small’s co-conspirator and close friend was Keith Andre Glaude, a Trinidadian, who was held in a sting operation by members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in Fort Lauderdale on May 30, 2001. Glaude pleaded guilty in late 2001 and was sentenced to two years in a federal prison. His prison term ends on March 31 this year. Now, the United States authorities want Small, also known as “Fires” or Olive Enyahooma-El.

A provisional warrant was executed on Small on Saturday and he was taken into custody pending his extradition to face the conspiracy and possession charges. Yesterday, Small, 69, appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Magistrates’ Court in response to the provisional warrant.

Small is wanted on the following charges:
(1) That between April 17, 2000 to May 30, 2001, he knowingly and willfully combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with persons known and unknown to commit offences against the United States, that is, to possess machine guns and silencers in violation of the US laws.
(2) On May 30, 2001, he knowingly possessed machine guns — Mac-10 nine millimetre machine guns in violation of the US laws.
(3) On May 30, 2001, knowingly received and possessed firearm silencers which were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Attorneys Wayne Sturge and Mario Merritt appeared for Small in court yesterday, while Douglas Mendes SC and David West represented the United States. Merritt complained to the Chief Magistrate that when Small was arrested on Saturday, he was not presented with any documents, nor was he told why he was being arrested. Mendes admitted the error, but said he had promised to pass over all documents when Merritt was officially on record in the matter. But Merritt said when a person is arrested, he should know why he was being detained. This, he added, was not done in Small’s case. Mendes said he had been informed that upon arrest, Small was informed why he was being held. Merritt asked that the case be put to tomorrow so the defence can argue for bail on Small’s behalf. Mendes had no objection and the Chief Magistrate obliged, still advising the defendant that he could apply to a Judge in Chambers. Mc Nicolls gave the prosecution 14 days in which to get the case ready.