Five men appeared in Magistrates? Court yesterday charged with conspiring to import cannabis with an estimated street value of $40 million.

The court heard it was the largest stash of cannabis in the Island?s history, with a total weight of 2,000 lbs.

The five defendants, Tristan Levan Codrington, George Leonard Lambert, Ricardo Michael Tucker, Gladwyn Sherwin Simmons, who are all from Sandys parish, and Jamaican national Anthony Stanley Martin stood quietly as they were read their indictment. The five together faced one charge: conspiring to import one ton of cannabis between a date unknown and March 8, 2004.

Lambert, who is represented by Elisabeth Christopher, faces an additional charge for importation of cannabis with intent to supply on March 8, 2004.

In addition, he faces three other charges: possession of cannabis with intent to supply, simple possession and having equipment for the preparation of drugs on him. These alleged offences occurred on March 13, 2004, said Crown counsel Juan Wolffe.

Since the charges were indictable, the men were not required to enter a plea but will eventually be tried in Supreme Court. After a lengthy bail hearing, Senior Magistrate Archie Warner placed Simmons, Tucker, Lambert and 20-year-old Codrington on remand until their next court appearance on August 6. The four had been on Police bail since they were arrested on June 3.

Martin was already in custody for separate immigration matters for which he has requested deportation. Martin, who was not represented yesterday, told the court: ?I haven?t gotten through to my lawyer yet.?

Paul Woolgar is representing Simmons, while Darrell Clarke is representing Codrington.