Jamaicans Named In US Drug Probe As Havendale Cocaine Bail Bid Withdrawn

Three Jamaicans are among 19 people charged in a United States drug-trafficking investigation that prosecutors say targeted two alleged organisations operating across Maryland, West Virginia and South Carolina.

The US Department of Justice identified the Jamaicans as Rohan LaMonte Brodie, also called Glamour G, 53; Marvin E. Taf, 39; and Trecian Simone Ward, 41. Authorities allege the accused were involved in conspiracies to distribute cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine. The charges were announced on June 2 by the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Prosecutors said indictments accuse the groups of moving large amounts of cocaine and cocaine base in Berkeley and Jefferson counties over about two years. Brodie and Taf, along with others, are alleged to have led one operation involving 15 defendants and several residences used to store and distribute drugs. Investigators also allege firearms, cash proceeds, luxury items and tens of thousands of dollars were seized. Court records say Taf was previously sentenced in 2016 to more than 11 years after pleading guilty in a federal drug case.

In a separate Jamaican matter, alleged trafficker Clive Davis withdrew a renewed bail application in the Supreme Court after his attorney, Kimberly Whittaker, said she could not properly answer the court's concerns about him being a flight risk. Davis is among five men charged after a $12-billion cocaine seizure in Havendale, St. Andrew, in August 2024.

Davis, Colin Ricketts, Clayton Perry, 72-year-old Junior Haldane and Aubrey Sterling are charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, trafficking cocaine and conspiracy. Their trial is set for March 8 next year in the Home Circuit Court. Justice Sonya Bertram Linton extended bail for Haldane and Sterling but refused requests to change their bail conditions.

Police say about 2,600 kilograms of cocaine, valued at US$75.79 million, was seized on August 6, 2024, during an operation by the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division and the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch.

Caribbean Maritime University also said the arrest of staff member Kevon Anthony Panton over alleged misuse of student funds showed its internal monitoring systems were working. Principal Professor Andrew Spencer said the university cooperated with the Financial Investigations Division after the matter was detected internally.