Crime Correspondent: Gibraltar

Jonathon Kelway,Trevor Collenette,Martin Genocchio and Kathryn Burman crew were arrested

British skipper Jonathon Kelway, 57, recruited his three crew via the online Crew seekers agency and arranged their travel to St Lucia in late April to help him deliver a Beneteau 50 Gin to Europe and so began the yacht delivery from hell. Trevor Collenette, a retired banker with over 30 years service with Lloyds TSB on the Island of Jersey, along with London couple Martin Genocchio and Kathryn Burman only met their skipper for the first time on 29 April at Gatwick Airport, London. They set sail from St.Lucia on 2nd May 2007 and they arrived in Gibraltar on 4 June and the yacht was searched by customs. The following day, in the early hours of 5th June, Gibraltar Customs effected a second search using sniffer dogs and apparently went straight to a false, fibreglassed compartment that contained 183 slabs of cocaine valued at £8million. The crew were arrested and accused of possession, possession with intent to supply and importation of drugs. They faced life imprisonment if convicted. No evidence was presented in the following 55 days to courts in Gibraltar, tying the agency recruited delivery crew to the importation but the three sailors were held on remand by Gibraltan authorities for nearly two months. On July 31st Trevor Collenette, Martin Genocchio and Kathryn Burman was released from the Gibraltar prison with no charge on July 31. James Neish, a journalist in Gibraltar, who has spoken to Mr Collenette, said: 'He spent almost two months in prison and he has described the whole experience as a nightmare.'As far as he is concerned he just wants to resume his normal life.' Ms Burman said their imprisonment was 'really tough' but that the experience would not stop them sailing again. Ms Burman told BBC London: 'I think the whole experience was numbing...a lot of the time it felt very surreal.'You knew you were in a serious situation, but I think your own defence mechanisms put you into a shocked feeling.' Mr Genochio said: 'Unfortunately something like this is always at the back of every skipper's and sailor's mind. The boat was fully searched before we left; we went through the basic preparations you go through for any ocean voyage.' Ms Burman said the pair was separated when they were held in prison, and were only allowed to see each other for one half-hour every week. But they said they would not let the experience put them off. 'We desperately want to get out there,' Ms Burman said. Jonathan Kelway, who has protested his innocence, was due to appear before Magistrates in Gibraltar again in late August or early September. Meanwhile, his lawyer, Stephen Ffrench Davis is appealing for information from anyone who can help trace the whereabouts of the yacht Gin prior to the delivery. Veljko Vetma - owner of Gin, is being sought by Police internationally - . .. The yacht's owner, Veljko Vetmar, a Croatian national is wanted in connection with the enquiry.

Jonathon Kelway,Trevor Collenette,Martin Genocchio and Kathryn Burman crew were arrested

British skipper Jonathon Kelway, 57, recruited his three crew via the online Crew seekers agency and arranged their travel to St Lucia in la...

Laguna Estate: J. E. L. and A. B. were charged and appeared in court on 9th January 2008.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr66sAZnimhjcRrshN8oKzEUXGlrOrS4_VqIMXGLsNlDVJMTBiRjujPA3QLO3QVXcctQGSnsqDofPQCXeHJLHmDMJUJmlZbpNKL1VCW8-SC6Qfcvu0rAKPnt4UgvN8lIR_MJzIBcOI-VI/s1600-h/gibraltar.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153557459731409922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr66sAZnimhjcRrshN8oKzEUXGlrOrS4_VqIMXGLsNlDVJMTBiRjujPA3QLO3QVXcctQGSnsqDofPQCXeHJLHmDMJUJmlZbpNKL1VCW8-SC6Qfcvu0rAKPnt4UgvN8lIR_MJzIBcOI-VI/s320/gibraltar.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> As a result of a drugs operation codenamed ‘Billabong’, officers of the Crime Division of the RGP assisted by the Customs Dog Section, search warrants under the Drugs (Misuse) Act were executed at a bar and four residences within Laguna Estate and a further residence in Lower Castle Road. At one residence in Laguna Estate, officers discovered 18 Slabs of Cannabis Resin weighing approximately 2.575kg. The occupier of this residence J. E. L. dob was arrested for the possession and possession with intent to supply these drugs. At another house in Laguna Estate, officers found approximately 14.5 grams of Cannabis Resin and arrested the occupier A. B. dob for the unlawful possession of these drugs. A further three persons were arrested on suspicion of being knowingly concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and were bailed out pending further investigation. Approximately £20,000 in cash was seized from two of the locations searched. J. E. L. and A. B. were charged and appeared in court on 9th January 2008.

Laguna Estate: J. E. L. and A. B. were charged and appeared in court on 9th January 2008.

As a result of a drugs operation codenamed ‘Billabong’, officers of the Crime Division of the RGP assisted by the Customs Dog Section, searc...

S.D Dob 20.09.83 of No 4/1 Richardson’s Passage

The Royal Gibraltar Police has this afternoon confirmed the arrest of a local man in relation to a major cannabis operation undertaken yesterday. In a statement this afternoon a police spokesperson said: - “As a result of an ongoing Royal Gibraltar Police Joint Crime Division anti-drugs Operation code named Shetland. Observations were kept on two high powered Spanish registered vehicles a black coloured BMW 320 and a charcoal coloured AUDI A 8 parked at a local car park, suspected to have drugs concealed in them. It was later confirmed that the two vehicles had been reported stolen to the Spanish authorities. On Wednesday 6th of June 2007 both vehicles where seized and taken to a police secure compound. Access into the vehicles was gained, which yielded the following: “Inside the boot of BMW 320 a total of seven bales containing approximately 210 kilos of Cannabis Resin was found. “Inside the boot of Audi A 8 a further 11 bales containing approximately 330 kilos of Cannabis Resin was also found. “Search Warrants Under the Drugs Misuse Act were executed at 4 local addresses, which resulted in the arrest of S.D Dob 20.09.83 of No 4/1 Richardson’s Passage, and two other local British nationals. “Scene of Crime Officer of the RGP carried out a full forensic Examination on both vehicles. “The two other British Nationals were each bailed out to appear at New Mole House Police Headquarters at a later date, in the sum of £5000 in their own recognizance and a further surety of £5000. “S.D. was charged to appear at the Magistrates Court with Possession and Possession with intent to supply approximately 540 kilos of Cannabis Resin. He was granted bail in the sum of £10,000 in his own recognizance with a surety in the like sum. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents. The drugs seized have an estimated street value of £ 1,350,000.”

S.D Dob 20.09.83 of No 4/1 Richardson’s Passage

The Royal Gibraltar Police has this afternoon confirmed the arrest of a local man in relation to a major cannabis operation undertaken yeste...