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Pregnant woman smuggled drugs in her body

cocaine into the Island in her body may be decided today.Twenty-eight-year-old Delicia Tucker, of Rambling Lane, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court this week to the importation and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

cocaine into the Island in her body may be decided today.

Twenty-eight-year-old Delicia Tucker, of Rambling Lane, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court this week to the importation and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

But she has denied four counts of importation and possession with the intent to supply $3,650 worth of cannabis and $124,000 worth of heroin.

The seven-man, five-woman jury heard that Tucker was detained at the airport on the afternoon of February 18, 1998. She had arrived on Delta Air Lines flight.

Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus said Tucker was searched by Det. Sgt. Kenville Savoury, P.C. Fawn Wade and Customs Officer Terry Smith. In the process of removing her clothing, an object fell out from between her legs.

The object was found to be a broken piece of a condom.

Tucker initially denied she was carrying a controlled substance. But on being informed she would be taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for a further search, she readily admitted to possession of a package that she could not remove from her body.

She was taken to hospital where Dr. Brenda Davidson was called in to remove the object using forceps.

The object was found to be an cylindrically-shaped black container wrapped in clear plastic (six inches long and 1.5 inches wide).

Upon removal, a second broken piece of condom was also found by Dr. Davidson.

Tucker told the doctor that she might be pregnant.

Dr. Davidson, upon administering a pregnancy test, found her to be pregnant.

Tucker was then taken to the Hamilton Police Station at 3.12 p.m. where Det.

Con. Jewell Hayward photographed the package and it was subsequently opened.

Inside the package were three separate packages, one containing a white powder, the second containing a beige powder, and the third containing a dark clay-like substance.

The contents of the packages were analysed and showed to contain 81 grammes of cocaine worth $22,000, 27 grammes of heroin worth $124,000, and 73 grammes of cannabis worth $3,650. The total value of $150,000 was found in the package.

Tucker asked Police: "What was in the smaller package..?'' Sgt. Savoury then asked the Government analyst what he thought about the contents. The analyst allegedly said the substance might have been some form of heroin.

According to P.C. Wade, Tucker then said: "I know about cocaine, but not heroin.'' Tucker was then transported back to Hamilton Police Station where she was further questioned. She was then taken to the Co-ed Facility in St. George's.

In closing arguments, Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus stated that Tucker knew she was importing an illegal substance with intent to supply.

She also stated that Tucker never opened the package to ascertain the contents, turning a blind eye to the situation.

"The nature and quality of the drug is no defence,'' Ms Bacchus said.

However, Tucker's lawyer Richard Hector said though Tucker had committed a crime, she had no reason to open the package having been told she would be transporting cocaine only.

He emphasised that she was already paying for her crime of transporting cocaine into the Island. Tucker has been in custody since February 22.

But he said he felt she should not be held accountable for the drugs she did not know she was carrying.

The trial continues today before Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller. The case is expected to go to the jury after Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller sums up the evidence today.