LOWE. a successful footballer who had no need to smuggle drugs

(Northamptonshire Chronicle) - Jamaican football star Onandi Lowe walked free from court and is set to resume his career after he was acquitted of being part of a plot to smuggle more than £100,000 of crack cocaine into the UK.

The former Jamaica striker - who was suspended from the national side during the investigation by Northamptonshire Police - was cleared of one charge of attempting to possess 1.17kg of the drug.

The jury of 11 women and one man at Northampton Crown Court took almost five hours yesterday to return a not guilty verdict on the ex-Rushden & Diamonds player following the five-day trial.

Lowe, aged 30, from Finsbury Park, London, wearing a black shirt under a white blazer, hugged defence counsel Mark Graffius after he was released from the dock by Recorder Christopher Tickle.

He refused to answer any questions from waiting reporters having cleared his name, saying only "I'm fine" shortly before he was driven away by former Rushden & Diamonds teammate Gary Mills.

It was alleged the 65-cap Jamaican striker accepted and signed for a Federal Express package from the Caribbean which originally contained the 71 per cent pure drug in a false bottom.

It had been intercepted at Miami International Airport, where the content of the package was replaced with flour, before being allowed to continue on its journey, being delivered to Lowe's home in Hayden Court, Rushden last April.

Lowe, who was released by Coventry City last season, admitted he had signed for the package, but claimed he had no idea drugs were inside and he was being set up by others.

He admitted signing for the package using the name "Kevin Brown" but during the trial, he told the jury he did so because he wanted to keep his identity secret and did not want the paparazzi taking photos of him.

Lowe, who won 65 caps for the Reggae Boyz, said a friend and former football colleague had asked him to receive the parcel for his girlfriend as she did not have a permanent address in this country.

Mr Graffius said Lowe was a successful footballer who had no need to smuggle drugs.

"He has bettered himself, he has signed for Coventry. He is sending money home and built his mother a house," said counsel. He is flying at this point. With all that going for him do you think you can really be sure of his guilt?

"Can you exclude the possibility that he has been set up?
"The bottom line is you cannot exclude that possibility and you cannot be sure. It is now the case that there is only one safe verdict and that is one of not guilty."

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