The trial of five men accused of conspiring to import an estimated $40 million worth of cannabis in 2004 begins today.

Tristan Levan Codrington, George Leonard Lambert, Ricardo Michael Tucker, Gladwyn Sherwin Simmons, who are all from Sandys Parish, and Jamaican national Anthony Stanley Martin appeared in Supreme Court yesterday for legal arguments pertaining to the trial. Each man has secured his own defence counsel.

The men are accused of conspiring to import approximately 2,000 pounds of the drug between a date unknown and March 8, 2004.

Codrington is being represented by Richard Woolridge, Lambert is being defended by Elizabeth Christopher, Tuckers has secured Shade Subair as counsel, Michael Smith is acting for Simmons and Charles Richardson is Martin?s lawyer.

Carrington Mahoney and Wayne Caines are Crown Counsel for the trial.

It is expected that witnesses from Florida will take the stand today after a jury is selected and the Crown makes its opening statements.