Tuesday, February 06, 2018

Colin Murraine: Pilot fails to secure bail, remanded to prison

Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP)

Pilot Colin Murraine.  
The 31-year-old was implicated in the recent ONDCP drug seizure at the V. C. Bird International Airport where 47.5 kilos of cocaine were found on a private charter plane that was preparing for takeoff.


The attorney of a pilot accused of drug trafficking has failed to convince the All Saints Magistrates’ Court that Colin Murraine, 31, would not abscond if he secures bail.

Lawrence Daniel told Magistrate Nagio Emanuel yesterday that his client is a family man with strong family and community ties who had never been in trouble with the law. Setting that statement aside, the magistrate said that Murraine, of Paynters Estate, was a pilot by profession who had the skills to operate an aircraft and could flee the state if an opportunity arises.

The chief pilot, with Caribbean Helicopters Limited (CHL), was charged with possession of 105 pounds of cocaine, exportation of the Class “A” drug, being concerned with the supply of cocaine, and drug trafficking. The father of one was nabbed on a private jet, as it readied for take-off from Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport on Friday carrying 47.51 kilogrammes of cocaine packed into two large suitcases.

The illegal drug carries a wholesale value of $1.7 million. Murraine was among four people who the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) arrested at Runway 10. The law enforcement agency said that the other three people, including two foreign pilots, have been released from custody.

The ONDCP, in a news release, said investigations are continuing and, as part of that process, the aircraft remains in the agency’s possession. If convicted of drug trafficking, Murraine faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. The accused and his legal team may try to secure bail in the High Court.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://antiguaobserver.com

Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP)

Colin Murraine, a chief pilot with Caribbean Helicopters Limited


ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Monday February 5, 2018 – An Antiguan pilot has been charged in connection with a recent drug bust in which almost EC$1.7 million (US$629,634) worth of cocaine was found on a private plane.

Colin Murraine, 31, appeared in court this morning on charges of possession and exportation of cocaine, and being in concern with the supply of cocaine and drug trafficking, and he was denied bail. He faces up to life in prison on the latter charge.

Murraine’s court appearance came three days after officers from Antigua and Barbuda’s Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) intercepted a private charter plane that was preparing for takeoff from the V.C Bird International Airport.

Their search uncovered 105 pounds of cocaine in several packages in two suitcases, with an estimated street value of EC$1,667,601 (US$617,635) on the aircraft.

The pilot was among four people who were arrested. The other three were subsequently released.

The aircraft remains in the custody of law enforcement authorities, pending further investigations.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.caribbean360.com

2 comments:


  1. Choices -

    (1) No bail and face the the music.
    (2) Post bail, stay and possibly get life in prison.
    (3) Flee and keep trafficking in another country.

    #3 makes sense for him. #1 makes sense to Antigua.

    He may have no record but no one begins a trafficking career with that amount of dope. I suspect this is the first time he got caught. It just got big enough to no longer avoid on the radar.

    The O'Jays sang a song in the 70's -

    "For the love of money, they will laugh, they will cheat"
    "For the love of money, they do not care who they hurt or beat"

    But I have to remember, I can make the same mistake.








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  2. (4) Set very high bail, post very high bail, flee, forfit very high bail, Antgua keeps very high bail, dude leaves forever and becomes some other countries’ problem.

    Look at it as a form of taxation without the hassel of whiny tax payers.

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