JAMAICA DEFENCE FORCE SOLDIER CAUGHT WITH COCAINE SAID HE WAS ‘TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT’!

The St Mary Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier who was reportedly caught trying to smuggle almost six pounds of cocaine into Canada claimed he was going through a phase and was ‘trying something different’.

“Sarge mi a go through a phase and mi a try a t’ing,” the 32-year-old Lance Corporal Sedona Maxwell reportedly told police officer after the cocaine was allegedly found in three souvenir cups and a false compartment inside his suitcase at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

On Friday when Maxwell appeared in court he appeared dejected and embarrassed, and, prior to the start of his case, sat holding onto his bowed head.

However, Maxwell was refused bail by Parish Judge Chestor Crooks whose reasons, she said, were based on the strength of the Crown’s case, the seriousness of the allegations and the fact that he once worked closely with the JDF as the force’s attorney.

“I am hopelessly biased in this matter,” said Judge Crooks, noting that he might even have known the accused.

Queen’s Counsel Valerie Neita-Robertson who made the application, however, did not enter a plea on behalf of her client, as she needed to take instruction from him and read the file, which she had not yet received.

Valrie Neita Robertson

As a result, the judge ordered that disclosure be made to her and remanded Maxwell until July 12.

Maxwell was reportedly held at the airport on June 18 with 5.8 pounds of cocaine.

He was allegedly attempting to board a flight destined for Toronto, Canada about 4:45 pm, when personnel from the police’s Canine Division alerted detectives to a suitcase belonging to him.

The suitcase was removed and searched in his presence.

The search revealed a false compartments, which contained cocaine, the police reported.

More cocaine was reportedly found in three souvenir cups.