Latvian to be paid $2m to deliver cocaine, Supreme Court hears

Make text smaller Make text larger

The Latvian sailor on trial over a $48 million cocaine haul told police he was to be paid $2 million to deliver it from Trinidad to Europe, Supreme Court heard today.

Police and Customs raided Janis Zegelis's yacht, Arturs, on August 1, 2011 when it was moored in St George's. They found the drugs along with a Beretta semi-automatic pistol and 192 rounds of ammunition.

Supreme Court has heard how Mr Zegelis, 28, told a Customs official that he did not plan to visit Bermuda but ran into bad weather on his voyage and had to stop for repairs to his yacht.

This morning, the jury heard from Detective Sergeant David Bagwan who arrested the sailor after the cocaine was discovered on the yacht.

Det Sgt Bagwan said he sat in the back of a police car with Mr Zegelis as he was being transported to Hamilton Police Station and the search of the yacht continued.

"In the police car he made a voluntary statement that when he departed Trinidad waters he gave his co-ordinates to the intended recipients of the cocaine and some men met him at the high seas and gave him the cocaine," said the detective.

He explained that Mr Zegelis had already been given a legal caution after his arrest that he did not have to say anything. At this point, the detective said, he delivered that caution again.

"He continued to speak. The defendant stated that he was to be paid $2 million to deliver the drugs," he told the jury.

"The defendant also stated that upon his approach to the Denmark Channel, he would give his co-ordinates again to the intended recipients of the cocaine who would arrange a meeting point and take over the vessel."

Det Sgt Bagwan added that during the journey, he received a phone call from a police colleague informing him that a quantity of ammunition was found on board the yacht.

He said that as a result, he delivered a legal caution again to Mr Zegelis before asking him if there were any firearms on board.

"He replied 'yes, I have a 9mm Beretta pistol inside a bag around the area where the packages are'," said the detective, who relayed that information back to his colleague.

The trial has heard officers found a gun matching that description near the drugs along with two extended magazines that gave the weapon extra firepower.

Asked by prosecutor Cindy Clarke what Mr Zegelis's demeanour was like during the ride in the police car, the detective replied: "He was very calm and relaxed."

Mr Zegelis denies possessing and importing the gun, drugs and bullets, and the case continues.

Make text smaller Make text larger

Take Our Poll