Belize Arrests Brothers on U.S. Extradition Request

On July 18, 2005, Belizean Chief Magistrate Herb Lord held an initial hearing on the extradition request by the U.S. for Andrew "Papa" Brown and his brother Floyd. Solicitor General Elson Kaseke told the Magistrate the U.S. has requested their extradition for six felony indictments on the following charges: conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S., importation of cocaine into the U.S., aiding and abetting the importation of cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and aiding and abetting conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. According to a media report, the charges arise out of a November 1999 incident in South Florida when U.S. Customs searched Luis Reina and found forty-two pounds of cocaine in two bags. Kaseke stated that U.S. Department of Justice investigations into the seizure resulted in taped telephone conversations between Reina and the Browns concerning the drugs...[more]