Millions found in hair crème jars

Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell has questioned what is happening in the Dominican Republic, after two Jamaicans returned to the island last month with more than US$60,000 (approximately J$9.2 million) in their possession.

“What is happening in the Dom Rep? There is something going on over there and the police may have to use the informal channels to get some information from the Dominican police but there is something going on,” the senior jurist argued. Her comments follow allegations shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday against Deno Baker and Randy-Kay Blair, who are charged for breaching the Proceeds of Crime Act. They have not yet entered a plea for to possession of criminal property, concealing criminal property, bringing criminal property to Jamaica, cross-border movement of cash and conspire to bring criminal property into Jamaica.

Prosecutors contend that on March 15, Blair and Baker arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport from the

Dominican Republic, following a four-day trip. They were searched separately by the police and jars of hair crème were found containing US currency. Blair was found with US$30,000 while Baker was found with US$39,000.

”When he [Baker] was cautioned Your Honour, he said that he found the money in a garbage bin in the Dom Rep and he decided how he was going to take it back to Jamaica. They found some of the money on his person and some in hair crème packages like Blair,” the prosecutor related to the court.

Blair, a 29-year-old hairdresser of an Ocho Rios, St Ann, address, when cautioned, allegedly told investigators that she was carrying the money for her boyfriend. The investigator informed the judge that this was Blair’s second trip to the Dominican Republic, as she previously visited the island in February. However, it was Baker’s first time travelling overseas.

“Why you went to the Dom Rep?” Burrell asked Baker.

“Well Your Honour, it’s a resort. Their hotel rates are cheaper,”

responded Baker’s attorney-at-law Leonard Green.

“Well, so is Jamaica and Cuba. You sure they didn’t go to a hair convention? I think they went to a hair convention,” the senior jurist responded.

Blair and Baker were offered

$1 million bail with sureties. They must report to the police three times weekly and were ordered to surrender their travel documents. A stop order was imposed. They were made subjects of fingerprint orders and are to return to court on May 27.