By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE officer testified yesterday in the trial of a businessman who allegedly imported ten firearms and more than 100 rounds of ammunition through a courier company in June.
The man, Rolando Thomas, 42, was charged with 14 firearm-related offences, including importation of firearms, possession of firearms with intent to supply, conspiracy to import firearms, conspiracy to import ammunition, and possession of ammunition with intent to supply.
Magistrate Lennox Coleby presides over the case, and Bjorn Ferguson represents the defendant.
Police reportedly executed a search warrant on Secure Import Services off Tonique Williams Darling Highway shortly before 3pm on June 20. Thomas and others were arrested after they were allegedly found with ten unlicenced firearms.
During the raid, police recovered 92 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 12 rounds of .40 ammunition.
Sergeant Sherman testified yesterday that Carl Strachan, an employee of Secure Imports, received the package with the guns as a part of a shipment that came in on June 19. The officer could not recall if Mr Strachan had searched the box.
Sgt Sherman agreed with Mr Ferguson that the defendant cooperated with police following his arrest.
The attorney told the officer that his client told police during an interview that he was doing a favour for his friend, Ryan Neely, and agreed to import a package because he thought it had baby clothes for his daughter. Mr Ferguson told the officer his client never agreed to import firearms.
In response, the officer told the court the defendant, when questioned about the imported weapons, said Ryan was an unregistered customer.
During cross-examination from Prosecutor Sergeant Lincoln McKenzie, the officer said the package manifest had no information about Ryan Neely, baby items or clothes.
The trial continues later this month.
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