Man freed of drug trafficking

Auren Grappie, of Claxton Bay, was before Soo Hon at the Port-of-Spain Sixth Criminal Court charged with the possession of an estimated $475,000 worth of compressed marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The judge yesterday directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty in favour of Grappie.

According to Soo Hon, the burden was on the prosecution to prove that Grappie and two men were in possession of the illegal narcotic on the night of November 2, 2002.

“The prosecution must make you sure that he (Grappie) was in joint possession of the drugs,” Soo Hon told the jury. “The legal requirements were not met by the prosecution. Having regard to the law, I have no choice but to direct you to return a verdict of not guilty,” she concluded.

The State’s case was that on the evening in question, Coast Guard and Customs intercepted a pirogue named Jason off the coast of Chaguaramas following a high speed chase.

Grappie, captain of the vessel Shaffick Mohammed, and its alleged owner Jason Gabriel were then on board the boat. Upon searching the vessel, the officers found the drugs in six crocus bags and a black garbage bag. The vessel was towed to Staubles Bay, where the charges were laid against the three men.

Mohammed pleaded guilty to the offence on April 11 and was sentenced to ten years on April 12 by Madame Justice Joan Charles. On May 25 he was called as a defence witness and testified that Grappie was innocent.

According to Mohammed, Grappie had been hired to bail water and knew nothing about the drugs. He said prior to the pick-up at Hog Island, a deserted island south of Grenada, Grappie had gotten off the pirogue to go for a swim. When he (Grappie) returned on board, he asked about the covered cargo in the bow compartment of the vessel and was told it was none of his business, Mohammed said.

After discharging Grappie yesterday, Soo Hon indicated she would not order that the bags of marijuana be destroyed, since one man was still at large for the offence.