Norris Dickson, the owner of Truck Norris, was found guilty by Magistrate Ayanna O. Baptiste DaBreo at the Magistrate’s Court.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to the offence but was found guilty at the conclusion of his trial.

Circumstances of the case

Dickson was arrested on June 29, 2018, after he sped past the West End Ferry Terminal without checking in with the immigration authorities.

The court heard that his actions aroused suspicion and he was followed and cornered when he was about to dock at a non-authorised entry dock in West End.

When questioned by Customs and Immigration officers, he explained that he had engine troubles hence he did not stop.

However, during his trial, he told the court he wanted to return to Road Town to check in because that was where he had checked out.

Notably, there were two individuals who were also on board who were not from the [British] Virgin Islands.

He claimed to have no knowledge of the individuals and said he was only giving them a ride.

When asked if he had anything to declare, he said he had $80,000; however, when the money was counted, it amounted to $97,050.

He was subsequently charged for the offence.

Guilty

During the trial, he tried to legitimise the source of the funds, however, the court felt that there were inconsistencies in his story, and he was not being honest.

The court accordingly found him guilty and ordered that the funds be forfeited to the Crown.

Attorney Stephen R. Daniels represented Dickson.