October trial date for duo in cocaine case

A British woman and a St Andrew man, who are accused of trying to smuggle $30 million worth of cocaine out of Jamaica inside food items, will stand trial in the St James Parish Court on October 29.

Anatalie Duncan-John, a 45-year-old engineer from Manchester, England, and John Pinnock, of Barbican, St Andrew, are charged with possession of, dealing in, attempting to export, and conspiracy to export 10 pounds of cocaine. They got the trial date and had their bails extended when they appeared in court on Wednesday. When the matter was briefly mentioned before presiding Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton, the court was told that there is a Communication Forensics and Cyber-Crime Division component to the case, which will form part of the prosecution's case.

Allegations are that on August 16, 2023, Duncan-John was preparing to board a TUI flight to London at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, when she was intercepted by narcotics police. Two suitcases in her possession were searched, and cocaine was found inside food items. Duncan-John was subsequently arrested and charged. Following further investigations, Pinnock was arrested and charged 13 days later.