A man accused of a plot to import fentanyl was cleared of charges yesterday.

A jury found Maurice Martin not guilty of conspiring to import a controlled drug on the instructions of Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons.

She told the jury: “As a result of one application that was made and a ruling I made on the law, I’m going to direct you to deliver a verdict of not guilty in respect of Mr Martin.”

Mr Martin’s co-defendant, Craig Lawrence, remains on trial.

He has denied charges of conspiring to import a controlled drug and conspiracy to supply a controlled drug.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard evidence from Jacqueline Robinson that Mr Lawrence ordered her to swallow dozens of pellets before travelling to Bermuda.

She testified she was told the pellets contained cannabis.

But the court heard they contained fentanyl, a synthetic opiate related to heroin.

Ms Robinson arrived in Bermuda on December 15, 2016, and threw up 44 of the 45 pellets.

Prosecutors said the remaining pellet ruptured, causing Ms Robinson to fall ill.

Ms Robinson confirmed that she had earlier admitted her involvement in the plot to smuggle drugs into Bermuda at Supreme Court and had been jailed for seven years.

The trial is expected to conclude this week.

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