A jury was selected yesterday in the trial of three men accused of planning the importation of more than $3 million of drugs.

A single charge was read to the nine woman, three man jury: that Michael Madeiros, 39, Steven Flood, 38, both of Belmer Drive, Devonshire, and Maurice Major Stovell, 31, of Serpentine Road, Pembroke, conspired to import 3,785.6 grams of cannabis between a date unknown and October 23 last year.

The drugs' total street value, prosecutors claimed during previous proceedings, was $3.4 million.

The jury was selected in the morning, however the majority of the day was spent on preliminary arguments between the prosecution and the three men's lawyers, Mark Pettingill and Richard Horseman. Paula Tyndale is the senior Crown Counsel, supported by Shakira Dill.

The case is expected to continue this morning before Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves.

Cash stolen

A couple visiting the Island became the victims of identity theft this week when their passports were stolen from their hotel room.

Police were called to a Southampton guest property shortly before 5 p.m. on Monday. There the tourists said sometime between 5 p.m. on Sunday and 4.20 p.m. on Monday an unknown culprit gained entry into their room.

Along with the passports, the thief stole about $850 in cash. Inquiries into this incident are underway.