By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 33-year-old man was imprisoned yesterday after being connected to a $15.8m cocaine and marijuana bust linked to a plane crash in Acklins last December.
Hugh Gray Jr was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms on charges of abetment to import dangerous drugs.
Eight of Gray’s co-accused had previously appeared before Senior Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux. They include Bahamians Donald Ferguson II, 26; Mickey Albert, 36; Jerry Pierre, 46; Chelsey Armaly, 54; Robert McSweeney, 46; and Demario Ferguson, 40, as well as Colombians Julio Alberto Casadiego, 63, and John Gomez Peña, 39, all facing multiple drug charges.
Drug Enforcement Unit officers attended the arraignment.
Prosecutors allege that Gray and his accomplices conspired to import 1,982 pounds of cocaine and 50 pounds of hydroponic marijuana into The Bahamas between October 1 and December 6, 2024.
On December 6, police reportedly seized the drugs — packaged in 24 multicoloured bundles — from a crashed blue-and-white plane in Acklins.
Although no one was arrested at the scene, all defendants were later taken into custody for their alleged involvement. Prosecutors claim that Donald Ferguson was the pilot in the incident.
The seized cocaine is estimated to be worth $15.3 million, while the marijuana is valued at $50,000.
Gray did not enter a plea. He was informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served before Magistrate Turnquest on April 17.
Sergeant 2257 Wilkinson served as the prosecutor.
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