Tarik Aaron has been convicted by Senior Magistrate Richards on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Drug with intent to Supply, a violation of section 7 (2) of the Drug (Prevention of Misuse) Act(Cap 178) ( as amended).
In a statement released by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Tuesday May 10th, 2022, it was stated that the decision, handed down by the Senior Magistrate on Wednesday, 4 May 2022, was as a result of a joint operation between Her Majesty’s Customs and the United States of America Customs Border Patrol on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, where Mr. Aaron and another person were apprehended following hot pursuit of Mr. Aaron’s vessel.
Several kilos of cocaine were discarded during the pursuit, prior to being apprehended by law enforcement. Law Enforcement retrieved the discarded items from the water and forensic testing confirmed that the items retrieved from the water were connected to some of the items recovered from the Mr. Aaron’s vessel. A total of 27 Kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of USD $2,700,000.00, was recovered during the operation.
Following a plea of not guilty, the matter proceeded to trial, which concluded with the Senior Magistrate convicting Mr. Aaron.
Mr. Aaron’s sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 8, 2022 and he was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison. Aaron is being represented by PST Law Chambers during the trial.
The matter was delayed as a result of the 2017 Hurricanes that destroyed Court Facilities and the COVID-9 Pandemic which has hindered the progress of criminal trials.