Gda: Drug traffickers awaiting extradition

Chief Magistrate Patricia Mark has ruled in favour of the extradition to the United States of four Grenadian men accused of conspiracy to traffic and the trafficking of several quantities of Cocaine across international borders into the United States.

The suspects - Ralph "Fatman" Blackman, Ricardo "Ricky" Lewis, Devon "Dappa" Thomas and Andrew "Snoop" Mc. Burnie have been remanded in custody at the Richmond Hill prison awaiting their extradition.

The Magistrate's decision to grant the extradition came at the close of the Prosecution's case and a "no case" submission made by a team of defense lawyers.

It came nearly six months after the suspects were picked up by local police at the request of the US government for Grenada to surrender the men to face criminal trial for drug trafficking and conspiracy. In speaking to GRENADA TODAY, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson said that the four locals were sought by the U.S Government under an extradition treaty which was signed by St. George's and Washington in May 1996 and subsequently made law in Grenada in 2001.

Nelson stated that under the treaty Grenada or the US could prosecute anyone who is or has been involved in drug trafficking in either country. The defendants have been charged in the U.S with conspiracy to traffic and trafficking of a controlled drug (Cocaine).
If convicted of either charge, they can face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison.