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Thursday, 06 March 2008
Two Jamaicans who were said to be major players in the multi-billion dollar international drugs trade are facing life in prison after being found guilty of smuggling in the United States (US).
They are Leebert Ramcharran who was designated by the White House as an international drug kingpin and Donovan "Plucky" Williams.
Both men were convicted in a Florida Court on Wednesday.
The convictions were for conspiracy to import and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Ramcharan reportedly led a sophisticated drug smuggling organization that received 15 thousand kilograms of cocaine from the north coast of Colombia between 1998 and 2004.
US prosecutors said the shipments were stored in Jamaica, then sent to the Bahamas and later transported to the U.S.
Williams was said to be one of Ramcharran's partners in the operation.
The men were arrested in Montego Bay, St. James in 2004 and were extradited to the United States last year.
Their trial commenced on January 15th and included testimony from more than 15 witnesses, including officers from the Jamaican Constabulary Force, the Royal Bahamian Police Force as well as the US Drug Enforcement Agency.
Civilian witnesses from Colombia, the United States, and Jamaica also gave testimony.
In addition, the US government introduced more than 100 items of evidence, including wiretaps on the telephones of the co-conspirators.
Two Jamaicans who were said to be major players in the multi-billion dollar international drugs trade are facing life in prison after being found guilty of smuggling in the United States (US).
They are Leebert Ramcharran who was designated by the White House as an international drug kingpin and Donovan "Plucky" Williams.
Both men were convicted in a Florida Court on Wednesday.
The convictions were for conspiracy to import and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Ramcharan reportedly led a sophisticated drug smuggling organization that received 15 thousand kilograms of cocaine from the north coast of Colombia between 1998 and 2004.
US prosecutors said the shipments were stored in Jamaica, then sent to the Bahamas and later transported to the U.S.
Williams was said to be one of Ramcharran's partners in the operation.
The men were arrested in Montego Bay, St. James in 2004 and were extradited to the United States last year.
Their trial commenced on January 15th and included testimony from more than 15 witnesses, including officers from the Jamaican Constabulary Force, the Royal Bahamian Police Force as well as the US Drug Enforcement Agency.
Civilian witnesses from Colombia, the United States, and Jamaica also gave testimony.
In addition, the US government introduced more than 100 items of evidence, including wiretaps on the telephones of the co-conspirators.
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