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by pltm
(PLTM) - Earl Deville Hodge, also known as Bob Hodge, and ex Customs Officer, Roberto ‘Tico’ Harrigan, will be seeking bail on Friday, February 10 after they were remanded to prison this afternoon by the court.
Hodge and Harrigan were arrested by local police after the United States Government issued a fresh extradition request for the men in connection with an alleged drug ring.
This afternoon, a special sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held at the Road Town Police Station, involving both overseas Counsel and Magistrate.
Details of what transpired during the hearing are unknown, as both the media and family were barred from the proceedings.
However, a bail hearing is set for Friday at 2:00 pm.
Previous Article Published February 7 - Update: U.S. Back For Bob & Tico Only
Police have confirmed that Earl Deville Hodge, also known as Bob Hodge, and ex Customs Officer, Roberto ‘Tico’ Harrigan, were arrested by local police on behalf of the United States Justice Department yesterday, February 7.
Hodge and Harrigan are two of the four local men wanted by the United States (U.S.) government in connection with an alleged 13 year old narcotics ring that connected South America, the Virgin Islands and the United States.
"Earl Hodge and Roberto Harrigan were both arrested yesterday evening on warrants issued on behalf of the United States Justice Department. Both men are scheduled to appear today in a special sitting of the Magistrate’s Court," police said in a brief statement today, February 8.
This means that the U.S. government has apparently only made a fresh extradition request for Hodge and Harrigan, and the other two men, Chad Skelton and Carlston Beazer are not being sought at this time.
When contacted, Maria Mays at the Governor's Office indicated that Governor John Duncan will not be commenting on the matter.
"Unfortunately the Governor won't comment on an ongoing court matter."
In December 2014, the four men, Hodge, Beazer, Skelton and Harrigan were freed after being held for three years.
High Court Judge, Madame Vicki Ann Ellis ruled that former Governor Boyd McCleary's decision to issue an Order to Proceed with an extradition hearing be quashed and that the matter be remitted to the Governor for reconsideration in accordance with the judgment of the court.
The men had challenged the Order to Proceed with a second extradition hearing ordered by McCleary on October 11, 2012.
The Judicial Review matter had resulted in a stay in the extradition proceedings at the Magistrate's Court.
There was also a fifth man, Juan Valdez, who holds dual citizenship for Antigua and Dominican Republic. He was repatriated following the December 2014 ruling.
The men were also charged locally, but prior to the completion of the extradition hearing, on October 12, 2012, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the local charges as authorities placed emphasis on the second extradition request from the U.S.
At the time, several senior members of the legal fraternity shared with BVI Platinum News that the local charges against the men can be re-instituted at anytime, and also the U.S. government can make another request for them to be extradited at anytime.
In relation to the local charges, it was explained that this will have to be indictable since the statue timeframe for filing summary charges has expired.
Further, in relation to the U.S. making a third attempt, investigators will have to provide fresh evidence to the Governor for him to consider proceeding with a third extradition hearing.
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