Fishermen Detained By US Authorities Freed

Attorneys representing four Jamaican fishermen detained by United States authorities at sea are calling for the Jamaican government’s intervention in bringing the men home.

During a media briefing on Monday, December 28, the Attorneys say no charges were laid against the men who recently faced a Florida Judge. The Judge also found that an alleged 150 gallons of liquid cocaine said to be on the vessel at the time of interception, was actually misidentified gasoline. 

The attorney’s are concerned that even before the matter was brought before a judge, two days after being intercepted, the US sought and received permission from Jamaican authorities to destroy the vessel at sea.

Despite being freed by the courts the crew is still in immigration custody. No charges were laid on Captain Anthony Clarke, Radcliffe Simmonds, Howard Patterson, and Warren Rowe, following their detention by us authorities who seized their vessel, Lady Lawla in October of this year.

Their detention triggered a raging debate in parliament about the role of the Jamaican government in protecting its citizens under the ship-rider agreement. At the time despite professing their innocence the government reportedly could not intervene since the men were allegedly found with contraband.

Accused of drug smuggling by the US, local attorneys blamed the Jamaican government for leaving its citizen’s fate in the hands of the Americans.

However, weeks before Christmas, a Florida judge ruled in the men’s favour freeing them of all the allegations.

Bianca Samuels, Attorney At Law- Knight, Junor, and Samuels is demanding that the passport of the fishermen be returned to them by the US authorities to facilitate their return to Jamaica with the intervention of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.