By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A Drug Enforcement Unit officer yesterday testified to discovering 23 pounds of cocaine in three shipment boxes addressed to a man who had been wanted by police for more than a year.
Antonio Baillou is charged with conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and importation of drugs.
The charges stem from the discovery of $140,000 worth of cocaine at Lynden Pindling International Airport in March 2020.
After evading arrest for 15 months, Baillou was taken into custody, formally arraigned and given a date to stand trial before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on the drug smuggling charges.
At a previous sitting, a customs officer told the court he discovered the illegal drugs after his police dog made indications to three large shipments at LPIA’s air freight terminal signed in Baillou’s name.
At the resumption of his trial yesterday, Sergeant Devin Clarke said the packages were handed over to the DEU to be inspected.
He said during his examination, he found 19 black sport bags in the boxes which each contained a clear plastic wrap with a powdery substance he believed was cocaine.
He said although he obtained a warrant of apprehension for the accused in June 2020, it was not until June of this year that Baillou was arrested.
Sgt Clarke said after the accused was detained at the Criminal Investigations Department, he invited him to participate in an interview.
He said although Baillou was questioned in the presence of his attorney, he responded “no comment” to most of the questions put to him and refused to sign his interview statement.
The court was told that when samples of the drugs were tested in the laboratory, they tested positive for cocaine.
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