Federal authorities in New Jersey say they have broken up a drug trafficking ring that was a major supplier of marijuana to Bermuda -- in the process touching off a political scandal on the island. Two men, one a resident of Bloomfield and the other alleged to be the husband of a top government official in Bermuda, were arrested after agents seized 700 pounds of marijuana last week at a warehouse in Orange. Douglas Collier, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Newark, said the operation differed from most, because rather than importing drugs into this country the traffickers were big-time exporters. The agency believes the traffickers had made five shipments totaling more than 2,000 pounds from Port Newark to Bermuda since last summer. Agents valued the pot at $15 million.
"It was unique," Collier said. "They were taking advantage of this beautiful island without law enforcement looking at them."
Taken into custody at the warehouse on July 15 were Dennis "King" Pamplin, 58, of New Rochelle, N.Y., and Brian Henry, 31, of Bloomfield.
Authorities said Pamplin's wife is a member of parliament in Bermuda, although he was found living in New York with a woman described in court papers as his girlfriend. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin is the shadow minister of works and engineering and deputy leader of the United Bermuda Party. Her husband's arrest, which has been big news in the Royal Gazette, Bermuda's only daily newspaper, has led to calls for her to resign, but so far she has refused. His lawyer said the couple have two children.
Henry and Pamplin were charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, a federal offense. Their case has been assigned to federal court in Manhattan.
The two have been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn; Henry without bail and Pamplin on a $2 million bond that will require the posting of property in Florida. If released, Pamplin also would be required to remain under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
According to a DEA complaint, the marijuana was owned by Pamplin. Just after noon on July 15, a DEA agent accompanied by other officers who had been watching the warehouse confronted Pamplin and Henry as they left the building. Pamplin gave them permission to search the place, the agent wrote.
A drug-sniffing dog then got interested in six concrete pillars, each 6 feet long and nearly 2 feet around. At that point, Henry allegedly told agents the columns had marijuana hidden inside, and police found it secured in 5-foot-long metal cylinders encased in the concrete.
The agent said Henry told them he assisted in packaging the shipments while Pamplin arranged for their transport.
Henry also told the officers that Pamplin was involved in a car chase in Morris County last year after he was ripped off trying to buy 227 kilograms of marijuana for $120,000. Chatham police records show Pamplin was arrested with two others after a chase on Aug. 28, 2007, and that the trio was found with $97,000, the agent stated.
The agent said a search of Pamplin's home last week turned up records showing wire transfers of thousands of dollars between bank accounts of his in this country and Bermuda from 2005 until this year.
Defense lawyer Paul Bergrin maintained Pamplin is in the asbestos removal business and simply stopped by the warehouse to check out a job, unaware marijuana was on the premises. He insisted Henry pointed the finger at his client in an effort to save himself and predicted Pamplin will be cleared.
Henry's attorney did not return a call for comment.
"It was unique," Collier said. "They were taking advantage of this beautiful island without law enforcement looking at them."
Taken into custody at the warehouse on July 15 were Dennis "King" Pamplin, 58, of New Rochelle, N.Y., and Brian Henry, 31, of Bloomfield.
Authorities said Pamplin's wife is a member of parliament in Bermuda, although he was found living in New York with a woman described in court papers as his girlfriend. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin is the shadow minister of works and engineering and deputy leader of the United Bermuda Party. Her husband's arrest, which has been big news in the Royal Gazette, Bermuda's only daily newspaper, has led to calls for her to resign, but so far she has refused. His lawyer said the couple have two children.
Henry and Pamplin were charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, a federal offense. Their case has been assigned to federal court in Manhattan.
The two have been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn; Henry without bail and Pamplin on a $2 million bond that will require the posting of property in Florida. If released, Pamplin also would be required to remain under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
According to a DEA complaint, the marijuana was owned by Pamplin. Just after noon on July 15, a DEA agent accompanied by other officers who had been watching the warehouse confronted Pamplin and Henry as they left the building. Pamplin gave them permission to search the place, the agent wrote.
A drug-sniffing dog then got interested in six concrete pillars, each 6 feet long and nearly 2 feet around. At that point, Henry allegedly told agents the columns had marijuana hidden inside, and police found it secured in 5-foot-long metal cylinders encased in the concrete.
The agent said Henry told them he assisted in packaging the shipments while Pamplin arranged for their transport.
Henry also told the officers that Pamplin was involved in a car chase in Morris County last year after he was ripped off trying to buy 227 kilograms of marijuana for $120,000. Chatham police records show Pamplin was arrested with two others after a chase on Aug. 28, 2007, and that the trio was found with $97,000, the agent stated.
The agent said a search of Pamplin's home last week turned up records showing wire transfers of thousands of dollars between bank accounts of his in this country and Bermuda from 2005 until this year.
Defense lawyer Paul Bergrin maintained Pamplin is in the asbestos removal business and simply stopped by the warehouse to check out a job, unaware marijuana was on the premises. He insisted Henry pointed the finger at his client in an effort to save himself and predicted Pamplin will be cleared.
Henry's attorney did not return a call for comment.
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