Albert Baker will be serving a 22-month sentence in the Her Majesty’s Prison having admitted to the possession of 89 pounds of weed with intent to supply. Baker was sentenced by Justice Iain Morley yesterday in the High Court yesterday.
He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 9, 2020 before the same judge. Baker was caught with the controlled drug worth $360,000 on the afternoon of May 15, 2018 when officers from the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) were on duty in St. Johnson’s Village conducting an operation.
They observed a white Toyota Allion rental car travelling on a by-road, turned on their emergency lights and siren behind the vehicle, prompting the car slowed down and stop.
The officers approached the vehicle and found the defendant and his girlfriend in the car and asked them to exit the vehicle. When the two passengers exited the car the officers noticed the strong scent of cannabis emanating from there.
The officers asked for permission to search the vehicle and Baker consented. Baker admitted that weed was in the vehicle when asked.
Upon searching the vehicle, the officers found a red bag containing a package wrapped in tape on the floor of the passenger side. It was partially opened and a green bushy substance was noticed.
Baker admitted that it was weed and it belonged to him but refused to state where he got it from.Two shopping bags containing packages were also found in the trunk of the same vehicle
The defendant and his partner were escorted to the ONDCP headquarters and upon being questioned the man admitted to where he was coming from and when officers were about to search the house he disclosed that there was more weed there in a duffle bag, a crocus bag and a black garbage bag.
The officers found the bags in a bedroom at the house. They then went to the girlfriend’s house where they found a suitcase containing USD $6370 and USD $1315.
The defendant claimed that the money was from his rental properties in St. Marteen saying that through he is from Dominica he lived in St. Marteen all his life and travelled frequently between there an Antigua.
He claimed that he moved to Antigua two weeks prior.
