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Zegelis returns to yacht

(Photo by Akil Simmons)Latvian sailor Janis Zegelis

Sailor Janis Zegelis set eyes on his 38-foot yacht Arturs yesterday for the first time since he was arrested ten months ago.Mr Zegelis, who is accused of importing $48 million of cocaine on the boat, went on a site visit with the jury hearing his trial.The 29-year-old defendant from Salacyriva, Latvia, was arrested after Customs officers raided Arturs when it was moored in St George's on August 1, 2011. The officers found a gun and 192 rounds of ammunition along with the cocaine, which weighed 166 kilograms.Mr Zegelis explained when he was interviewed by police that he was sailing from Trinidad to his home country in Eastern Europe. However, he ran into bad weather which damaged his vessel, forcing him to stop for repairs in Bermuda. He told detectives he kept the gun for protection against pirates.He has been in custody ever since his arrest.Yesterday, the jury was accompanied by the judge and lawyers in the case to Prospect Police Headquarters, where they spent ten minutes viewing the drug haul at the centre of the case. Mr Zegelis was in handcuffs and escorted by three prison officers.Usually, drugs in court cases are brought to the courtroom, but the jury heard that the cocaine haul would have to be visited at Prospect due to security concerns.Then the jury, which was travelling on a PTB bus with a police escort, travelled to Southside Police Station. They spent 20 minutes there viewing the yacht, which is out of the water. Mr Zegelis did not accompany them in climbing aboard the vessel, which is named after his son. He could be seen in conversation with the Latvian-speaking translator who is assisting him during the trial.He denies importing and possessing the gun, drugs and ammunition and the case continues.

Photo by Mark TatemThe Arturs sailboat, shown here on the date it was raided by Customs and Police officers.