Bermuda stunned as US agents find marijuana in players' bags By Marcus Day Seven players with Bermuda's victorious Under-23 soccer squad have been charged in Miami with possessing and importing marijuana.

Today they are expected to appear at a bail hearing before Dade County Court.

As shock waves swept through Bermuda yesterday, a question mark now hangs over whether the team will compete in the Pan-Am Games finals in Argentina next March.

The players were detained by US Customs officials after flying into Miami International Airport from Jamaica.

Customs officials say eight pounds of marijuana -- believed to have a street value of more than $100,000 -- were found inside shoes.

One player was allegedly carrying the drug in shoes in his carry-on bag.

Arrested were Meshach Wade, Herbie Dillas, Shawn Riley, Keishon Smith, Donnie Charles, Tokia Russell, and Kevin Jennings.

Just a few hours earlier they had been heroes during Thursday night's thrilling 1-0 victory over Jamaica which booked Bermuda's ticket to the Pan-Am Games finals.

Last night US Customs officials handed the seven -- one a juvenile -- over to Metro Dade Police Department, where they were expected to remain in jail until today's court hearing.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team and officials flew back to Bermuda.

A small crowd gathered outside the Civil Air Terminal to applaud the returning squad, although the clapping and cheering was muted.

The tears of coach Mr. Mark Trott as he hugged his family told a tale of despair.

His mother cried out: "I think what Mark has done for this Country is just fantastic!'' Other officials also struggled in vain to contain their emotions.

And players, who should have returned as heroes, appeared grim-faced and sombre. They had been told not to speak to the Press.

Bermuda Football Association general secretary Mr. David Sabir said officials would be making no comment for at least 48 hours.

Details about what had happened were still sketchy, he stressed.

"We are in the fact-finding mode at present. There will be a debriefing, and we should be able to make a statement on Monday.'' Mr. Sabir pledged the players would be legally represented.

A BFA official -- who did not wish to be named -- told The Royal Gazette : "The Drug Enforcement Agency in Miami told us there was no point in any officials remaining with the players.

"The players would be taken away, and officials would not have been able to see them.

"I believe they will be appearing in court on either Monday or Tuesday.'' He added the players, if convicted, could face several months in jail.

"One of them is just 17 years old.'' The team's technical director Mr. Burkhard Ziese was said to be still in Jamaica, recovering from an ear infection.

News of the arrests was greeted with shock and dismay in Bermuda yesterday -- amid reports the players may have been set up.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan told the House of Assembly last night the events were a "scar on our Country.'' "This will not only affect us, but also other countries who have always seen Bermuda as a responsible, caring, concerned place.

"Just as we were giving awards to people who helped in the war on drugs, the snake's tail was giving us a lash.'' Government MP Mr. Harry Soares said: "We proposed that no further funding be forwarded to any sporting body until mandatory drug testing is introduced.'' Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon told The Royal Gazette she was devastated, and voiced fears the team could be thrown out of the Pan-Am competition.

"It's so difficult to go through the gambit of high emotion, pride, to embarrassment and sorrow for the Country.

"Right now the Country is in a sad state, it's like a funeral has happened, like a death almost.'' Ms Gordon said she had heard about the arrests through her technical officers.

"We did our search within our Government people to get relevant information to make a decision. The players are innocent until proven guilty.'' She added Government had been in touch with the British consulate authorities in Miami to ensure the players were "adequately'' legally represented.

Ms Gordon said two sets of lawyers could represent the players.

"I don't think they are going to be extradited. They will be kept in remand, I assume in a cell''.

Shadow Sport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said one of the lawyers who would represent the players was Mr. H.T. Smith, president of the national Bar Association in America.

Dr. Brown said Mr. Smith had been in Bermuda recently in preparation for a convention trip to the Island in August.

He added it was his belief FIFA rules meant a player would be disqualified from the tournament if convicted of a drug offence.

The team arrived in Miami at about noon on American Airlines Flight 1981, from Kingston, Jamaica.

With the team was The Royal Gazette sports reporter Mr. Lawrence Trott.

Mr. Trott told how the players were confronted by US Customs officials with sniffer dogs after leaving the plane and walking towards the terminal.

"Four guys were singled out. One guy was actually arrested.'' He added: "They then got everybody together with their checked luggage and started searching everybody. There was quite a scene.'' It is claimed drugs were found inside black and white Converse sneakers after Customs officials pulled off the soles.

One player allegedly had the shoes in his carry-on bag, and at least four or five others had theirs in checked luggage.

Some players were allowed through to get their connections to New York after they were searched.

"The longer the investigation went on, the more it became clouded in mystery,'' said Mr. Trott.

"The longer it went on the more terrified other players became.'' Mr. Trott said Mr. Dillas was the first one to be handcuffed.

"The dog sniffed him first and then four other people. The whole tour party was taken to a search area and searched individually.

"Then six others were arrested. Some guys didn't know how to react.'' Mr. Trott said the players were detained pending a decision on who was going to deal with it.

The US Attorney Office reportedly declined to take on the case and the matter was being handed down to state level.

"I was told that determination is still pending,'' said Mr. Trott.

Chief Inspector of US Customs Mr. Mike Norwood said officials were alerted yesterday by their canine dogs.

Marijuana was found wrapped in plastic in shoes and suitcases.

"The players were searched in the passenger processing area, and other players were examined and searched.'' Mr. Norwood said eight pounds were discovered.

Asked about a conspiracy theory and the possibility the arrested players had been set up, Mr. Norwood said: "We don't get into those kind of theories.

"But it's quite common to hear that kind of thing.'' It costs $50 US to buy a pound of marijuana in Jamaica, but $5,000 in Bermuda.

The Miami arrests have brought fresh demands for drug testing of athletes.

Ms Gordon said: "I have been advocating testing for a long time.'' Donnie Charles Keishon Smith Kevin Jennings Shawn Riley Meshach Wade