Customs officer found drugs after a `hunch'
trial yesterday.
Jerry Alexander Ming, 29, of Green Acres, Devonshire, is charged with importing $35,000 worth of cocaine in a General Electric stove on February 2, 1994.
Timothy Mahoney, who is part of the Customs contraband enforcement team, said he searched the box on a hunch around 2.20 p.m.
After cutting the bottom portion of the box off, Mahoney said he was then able to open the oven door.
Inside, he said the oven pan was resting diagonally, and underneath it there was a ziploc sandwich bag.
"I opened it. There was a package wrapped in fabric softener, which I unwrapped and found another package wrapped in grey duck tape.
"I probed it with a knife and found a white residue. I called my supervisor who then turned it over to the Police.'' A Government analyst examined the powder which turned out to be 1.35 grams of cocaine. Police replaced the package with a similar one and the stove was repackaged.
Ming's lawyer Mr. Archie Warner asked why he chose to inspect the stove even though it appeared new.
Mahoney said at the time he thought Ming was a first-time importer and that generally all first-time importers were inspected.
Despite that, he said it was still possible to clear an item and take it from the dock without an inspection as long as the duty is paid, and all the paperwork is orderly.
A truck delivered the stove to Ming's apartment on February 3 and left it on the porch late that morning.
Det. Con. Terrence Gift said he followed the driver to the apartment and kept watch until Ming and his family came home around 5.30 p.m.
Soon afterward, Det. Con. Gift said Ming left on a motorcycle. Police followed him.
"He kept going and did not stop for Police. He kept going very fast and looking back in our direction. He then turned down a narrow path (near St.
Brendan's Hospital) and escaped.'' Later Police and Customs officers went back to the site and searched the area finding the dummy package in some bushes.
The case continues today before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade. Mr.
Philip Storr appears for the Crown.
