Witness says he was 'used' by drug importation conspirators
A cruise ship employee who admits participating in a cocaine-smuggling ring said he was “just used” by those who organised the plot.Adrian Morris, from Jamaica, is in prison for his role in the enterprise after workmen discovered a bag of drugs he hid under a seat on the Explorer of the Seas ship.The married father-of-two is now a prosecution witness against another Jamaican, Ricardo Stewart, who's on trial at Supreme Court.Mr Morris, of Golden Grove, Saint Ann, says Mr Stewart, of Ocho Rios, St Ann, was in charge of the plot on the ship.Prosecutors say the intention was to import cocaine into Bermuda.Mr Morris told the jury on Monday that other crew members and passengers were used to pick up the drugs and move them around the ship.He explained he was earning $565 [US] per month for his job as a ship's cleaner, which he supplemented with other legitimate jobs in the ship.However, he said Mr Stewart, a waiter on the vessel, offered him $1,500 to move a bag containing drugs from outside his cabin and put it under a seat in a disco-bar on the vessel.“I didn't have much involvement. I was just used,” he explained.The bag was found by workmen on the day Mr Morris placed it under the seat, June 6 2010. His role was captured on CCTV.The then-28-year-old was detained onboard and locked up for 18 hours until the ship reached Bermuda the next day.He and Mr Stewart were then arrested by the Bermuda Police Service.Mr Morris was questioned and named persons involved in the plot, including Mr Stewart as the alleged ringleader.He admitted he did not give Mr Stewart's name to the authorities straight away, explaining he was scared.“I was thinking about my family, and about prison and about all that stuff,” he told the trial yesterday.“I was thinking to call his [Stewart's] name, whether to tell the Police his name, whether it would be a good idea.”Mr Morris said he was charged, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced. He did not specify what the sentence was.Cross-examining Mr Morris, Mr Stewart's lawyer Marc Daniels repeatedly suggested he lied about Mr Stewart's involvement to secure a lighter punishment for himself.Mr Morris denied this, but said he knew he would get credit for admitting his own role.“If I plead guilty I know I will get less time,” he explained.Mr Daniels alleged: “You have consistently lied to the police and to this court, haven't you?”Mr Morris replied: “I never lie.”“But you were not honest with the police when you told them that Ricardo Stewart was involved in this conspiracy with you, were you?” pressed Mr Daniels.“He's involved,” replied Mr Morris.When Mr Daniels accused him of trying to distance himself from the offence, Mr Morris replied: “I'm just at the bottom of this.”Mr Stewart denies conspiring with Mr Morris and others not before the courts to import cocaine, and the case continues.