Man admits $10m drug and bullets plot
A self-employed businessman has admitted plotting to import $10 million worth of drugs and 200 bullets.Victor Roberts, 47, originally denied the offences. However, he pleaded guilty to an amended indictment yesterday on the morning his trial was due to begin.The charges he admitted were conspiring with others not before the court to import controlled drugs, 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 100 rounds of 0.40mm ammunition.The crimes are said to have been committed between an unknown date and July 17, 2011.According to prosecutors, Roberts imported a large quantity of heroin, cocaine, cannabis resin and cannabis. The original indictment specified the types of drugs but the new one did not.His arrest came after police seized more than $10 million worth of drugs and four boxes containing 200 rounds of live ammunition during a raid at a home on South Road, Warwick on July 20 2011.Prosecutor Susan Mulligan did not present any facts in relation to the case to the court yesterday. She is due to do so when Roberts is sentenced tomorrow.This newspaper reported at the time that two men were arrested after the raid at the house.A police spokesman said after the news broke: “Following a joint operation, the Bermuda Police Service has intercepted a significant quantity of drugs and ammunition, which had been prepared for shipment to Bermuda by container.”He said indications showed the contraband seized was approximately:* 114 kilos of cannabis* 1.5 kilos of heroin* One kilo of cocaine* 50 grams of hash* Four boxes of live ammunition totalling 200 roundsThe spokesman added: “The estimated value of the drugs is in excess of $10 million.“This combined law enforcement operation has enabled officers to intercept these items before reaching our streets, preventing the risk of significant public harm that drugs have on the community and the threat ammunition has in the wrong hands.”Roberts was working as a self-employed mechanic at the time of his arrest, and previously worked in the construction industry.He is represented by lawyer Mark Pettingill and was remanded into custody until his sentencing.