later this morning charged with importing cocaine into St. Maarten in the Dutch Antilles.

Tucker, who runs the Odyssey nightclub on Front Street, was picked up by drugs squad officers at a hotel on the island on June 30 along with six other men.

Several kilos of cocaine were allegedly discovered in their possession and Tucker has been in custody ever since.

The jurisdiction's legal system means that Tucker will not face a jury trial but will instead present his own case before a judge after Police have put forward the prosecution's case. The hearing is expected to last all day and will then adjourn until the end of the month before the judge gives his verdict.

It is believed Mr. Tucker's father, Clarence, who runs the nightclub with his son, could now be in St. Maarten to support his son.

When The Royal Gazette tried to contact him yesterday a member of staff at the club confirmed that he was off the Island but would not specify where he was staying.

BERMUDIAN BDA CRIME CRM