
British residents charged in J$55 million drug busts at St James airport
ST JAMES, Jamaica— Police have now charged three British residents in connection with the seizure of cocaine in two separate incidents at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James last Saturday.
The drugs have a combined weight of 10 kilogrammes, police are reporting.
Those charged are Loran Anthony Bartley, 59, a retired staff nurse from West Bromwich, Birmingham; Luke Bradly, 37, a construction director from Erdington, also in Birmingham; and Burthland James Hodges, 47, also from Erdington, all in the UK.
Police said Bartley and Bradly are charged with possession, dealing, attempting to export and conspiracy to export cocaine. Hodges has been charged jointly with Bradly for conspiracy to export cocaine.
READ: British nationals held with cocaine in separate incidents at Sangster Airport
The men are scheduled to appear before the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
Police had reported that Bartley and Bradly were both arrested after they were intercepted at the airport while attempting to board separate flights to Birmingham, England, with cocaine concealed in their luggage.
The 10 kilogrammes of cocaine seized from the men in both incidents attract a street value of approximately £300,000 (JM$55, 020,000) the police said.
Police said following Bradley’s arrest, further investigations by Narcotics detectives led to the detention of Hodges in St Ann.
On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, all three men were interviewed in the presence of their attorneys and subsequently charged.