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Haitian nabbed with 50lbs of gold jewellery
Thursday, 11 February 2010
The police are still interrogating a Haitian national in connection with a major gold smuggling ring.
Philippe Hadid was arrested as he attempted to board American Airlines flight 1504 to Miami at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston Thursday morning.
The police say Mr. Hadid had a knapsack which was put through an x-ray machine.
During that process, six plastic bags containing hundreds of pieces of gold jewellery were found including several rings, chains and other pieces of gold, valued at millions of dollars.
The jewellery is said to weigh more than 50 pounds.
Mr. Hadid was unable to say how he got the jewellery; he had no license to ship the jewellery, no permit to trade in the precious metal and no proof of purchase.
Over the past weeks the police have been clamping down on the illegal gold trade.
They believe that robbers have been targeting persons and stealing their jewellery to sell on a thriving black market.
The Haitian suspect who is in the custody of the Half Way Tree Police Station is believed to be a major player in the racket.
Meanwhile, the police are seeking persons who have been fleeced of jewellery.
"There have been robberies within the St. Andrew Central Division from last year and this will be a collaborative effort by all divisions to find the owners of the jewellery. Investigations are ongoing," said Detective Constable Tanisha Perry of the Half Way Tree Police.
Those persons are also asked to call 926-8186.
Mr. Hadid has been charged with unlawfully dealing in second hand jewellery and unlawful possession of property.
An additional charge of the Breaches of the Customs Act will be slapped on him, as he failed to declare the goods.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
The police are still interrogating a Haitian national in connection with a major gold smuggling ring.
Philippe Hadid was arrested as he attempted to board American Airlines flight 1504 to Miami at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston Thursday morning.
The police say Mr. Hadid had a knapsack which was put through an x-ray machine.
During that process, six plastic bags containing hundreds of pieces of gold jewellery were found including several rings, chains and other pieces of gold, valued at millions of dollars.
The jewellery is said to weigh more than 50 pounds.
Mr. Hadid was unable to say how he got the jewellery; he had no license to ship the jewellery, no permit to trade in the precious metal and no proof of purchase.
Over the past weeks the police have been clamping down on the illegal gold trade.
They believe that robbers have been targeting persons and stealing their jewellery to sell on a thriving black market.
The Haitian suspect who is in the custody of the Half Way Tree Police Station is believed to be a major player in the racket.
Meanwhile, the police are seeking persons who have been fleeced of jewellery.
"There have been robberies within the St. Andrew Central Division from last year and this will be a collaborative effort by all divisions to find the owners of the jewellery. Investigations are ongoing," said Detective Constable Tanisha Perry of the Half Way Tree Police.
Those persons are also asked to call 926-8186.
Mr. Hadid has been charged with unlawfully dealing in second hand jewellery and unlawful possession of property.
An additional charge of the Breaches of the Customs Act will be slapped on him, as he failed to declare the goods.
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