Dean Robert Gould was charged in connection with a cannabis seizure and remanded to prison after the court raised concerns that he might be a flight risk.[1] He appeared before Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel in the St John’s Magistrates’ Court.[1] He appeared before the court on Monday, when prosecutors opposed bail.[2] The court became concerned that Gould was a flight risk after he failed to show sufficient ties to Antigua and Barbuda.[1] Apparently, he only has a United States passport.[1] Gould, who claims to live in Cedar Grove, has until 29 June to provide proof of address to the court.[1] He was described in court as a barber and identified in official reports as a pastor.[2]

He faces charges of possession of cannabis, possession with intent, importation, drug trafficking and being concerned in the supply of drugs.[1] The charges arose from a joint operation at V.C. Bird International Airport on 13 June involving the Narcotics Department, the K-9 Unit and the Customs Enforcement Unit.[1] Authorities said officers searched two suitcases after a police dog alerted them.[1] Sixty vacuum-sealed packages containing cannabis and weighing 59 and a half pounds, about 27 kilograms, were reportedly found.[1] Reports are that Gould arrived in Antigua on a flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.[1]

Police said the search uncovered 60 packages of suspected cannabis concealed beneath clothing and footwear.[2] Antigua News Room estimated the street value at EC$357,000 for about 59.5 pounds.[2] The Observer put the estimated street value of the seizure at $476,000.[1]