The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Court Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN Abaconian man was charged in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a recent major drug and arms bust on the island last week.

A business on Sherlin Bootle Highway was raided by authorities resulting in the seizure of an estimated $3m worth of Indian hemp and cocaine.

Charles Bodie, 59, faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney on 12 firearms and drug charges.

These charges include possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of ammunition, possession of firearms with intent to supply, two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to supply, two counts of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply and three counts of possession of a component part of a firearm.

Reports indicate that shortly after 12pm on October 7 at a business in Marsh Harbour, Bodie is accused of being in possession of a black Austria Glock 9mm pistol and a black Remington pistol. He is also alleged to have been found with ten unfired rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 74 rounds of unfired 9mm ammunition, two black Remington magazines and a black Glock magazine.

Bodie was also found with a prohibited brown 7.62 rifle and 28 unfired rounds of 7.62 ammunition.

In reference to the drug charges Bodie, being concerned with others, is said to have been found with five pounds of cocaine and more than 120 bales of suspected marijuana.

The confiscated drugs were found in various crocus sacks scattered across the premises and in derelict vehicles at the back of the property. They were sent to Nassau by the Drug Enforcement Unit.

While Bodie pleaded guilty to the prohibited weapons and ammunition charges, he pleaded not guilty to the remaining 10 charges.

Despite the prosecution’s objection to bail, $40,000 bail was granted for the weapons related charges and $10,000 for the drug charges.

Tr