US citizen agrees to extradition

A US citizen accused of conspiring to import heroin yesterday agreed to be extradited when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls.

Erving Torres of Brooklyn, New York, was charged jointly with three other persons in December of 2002 by officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit. They were allegedly attempting to board BWIA flights destined for the US with 10.38 kilos of heroin, reportedly valued at over $5 million. The charge was laid by Sgt McCarthy. The others agreed to be extradited on July 10 after DPP Geoffrey Henderson offered to have the charges against the four dropped on the condition that the accused agree to leave the country. David Alexander, defence attorney representing Torres, informed Newsday that his client was simply waiting to confirm certain arrangements with US authorities before he agreed to the extradition. Torres speaking in an American accent asked, “What will happen if the US Marshals don’t come for me?” McNicolls assured the man that the US authorities were required by law to come for him. He then agreed to the extradition with no objection from prosecutor David West of the Office of the Attorney General. The matter was adjourned to August 11, when the matter is to be finalised.