Falklands : Spanish Prisoners Deported After 2.5 Years in Falklands’ Custody
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 18.04.2011 (Article Archived on 02.05.2011)
Two Spanish Seamen, both serving sentences of imprisonment in Stanley Prison for Importing a Controlled Drug and one of them, a further sentence for Burglary
Spanish Prisoners Deported After 2.5 Years in Falklands’ Custody
By J. Brock (FINN)
Two Spanish Seamen, both serving sentences of imprisonment in Stanley Prison for Importing a Controlled Drug and one of them, a further sentence for Burglary had their sentences remitted and were deported from the Falkland Islands to return to their homes in Spain on Saturday 09 April 2011.
Making an application to His Excellency the Governor the two men asked to exercise the prerogative of mercy to remit the remainder of their sentences of imprisonment.
His Excellency the Governor, having received advice from the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, as required under section 71 of the Constitution, remitted the two sentences with effect from the second anniversary of the date of sentence. Both men served almost two and half years imprisonment when time spent on remand in custody was included.
Having been made subjects of Deportation Orders, by His Excellency the Governor, following a recommendation by The Principal Immigration Officer and due process, the date of deportation and remission of sentences were timed to coincide with each other.
After being placed on the north bound Air-Bridge on Saturday 09 April 2011 they returned to Spain via Heathrow Airport on Sunday 10 April 2011.
The saga began when two seamen from Cangas, Galicia were found with £1 million worth of cocaine on board the Fishing Vessel, Ventura on 30 October 2008. Working with ‘Leo’, a trained dog from Mount Pleasant Complex, the haul was discovered by a Falklands Customs team and the two Spanish seamen were arrested on and charged with importing 30 kilos in 29 packets of cocaine to the Falklands.
According to what one of the seamen told the Royal Falkland Islands Police, the pair was paid 20,000.00 Euros to import the drugs back to Spain aboard the vessel. However, 23 of the kilo bags went missing from Stanley Police Station and one seaman was subsequently charged and sentenced to an additional 16 months imprisonment for burglary.
The drugs charges resulted in 5-year sentences for both men.
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