Woman in court for guns in barrel

Hafeisha Dillon, 28, of Globe Theatre Lane, San Juan appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John in the Port of Spain Magistrates Court yesterday, on a charge that on May 31, at the Piarco Bond area of Piarco Air Services in El Socorro, she imported prohibited goods, namely 19 firearms, contrary to Section 213 of the Customs Act.

She was not called upon to enter a plea as the charge was laid indictably.

Attorney for the Customs and Excise Division Harricharran Cassie asked the magistrate to consider the nature of the items and set a substantial bail with conditions that Dillon surrender her passport and report to the police station in her district. In his application for bail, Dillon’s attorney Devvon Williams who appeared with attorney Kelston Pope, submitted that his client was previously on a bond which has since expired and is a geriatric nurse at a private home in Saddle Vale, Santa Cruz. He said she lives with her mother and family in San Juan and asked that reasonable bail be set since it would take some time for the prosecution to get the necessary analysis reports.

He also questioned the strength of the evidence and asked her to not put too much weight on the nature of the items allegedly seized.

In granting bail, Magistrate Forde- John ordered Dillon to surrender her passport and report to the San Juan Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. She will return to court on July 3.

At yesterday’s hearing, the exhibits, contained in a large blue plastic barrel, were brought to court. In all there were two assault rifles, two shot guns and 15 pistols and handguns.

The barrel also contained a quantity of Boost Nutritional drinks, a large Purina Dog Chow bag and two large all purpose flour bags. It is alleged that the barrel originated from Canada.