Wallerfield couple goes on trial for drug trafficking

A Wallerfield man and his ex-wife yesterday went on trial in the Port-of-Spain High Court for allegedly trafficking almost 300 kilos of marijuana and cocaine. Dexter Brown and Keisha Outram are before Justice Hayden St Clair Douglas and a nine-member jury in the Fifth Assizes. The couple, married at the time, was arrested at their farm at Brazil Road, Wallerfield, on November 6, 1999. 

The State’s main witness, retired police Sgt Neville White, yesterday tendered the sizeable drugs haul as evidence in the case. White had to seek the assistance of three other police officers to transport the drugs to the courtroom at the Hall of Justice, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain. The drugs, packaged in 92 bundles, were stored in several large plastic and canvas bags. 

While testifying, White said that he and his officers had performed surveillance exercises on the couple’s property for some time before the raid. “Wallerfield is a farming area and there was no farming taking place on that property,” he said. The retired officer said that on the day of the raid, he and his officers surrounded the house and peeked through a window.

White said that while looking through the window, he saw the couple sitting in their living room, with Brown eating a box of food and Outram weighing the drugs on a market scale. White said that while observing the duo for a couple of minutes, Outram noticed their (the police) presence and alerted Brown.

The officers then identified themselves, searched the house and arrested the couple. The total weight of the marijuana was 612 lbs. The State is also alleging that 24 lbs of cocaine and a quantity of local and foreign currency was found in the house. White said that a while later, while being interrogated, Outram admitted that she and Brown were selling the drugs to pay for their farm. 

Brown and Outram are being represented by Ravi Rajcoomar and John Heath, while Jennifer Martin is prosecuting for the State. The trial continues today.