A magistrate has ordered the forfeiture of US$15,610 from a male passenger who claimed that he had been given an envelope to deliver to stranger, who told him to call the number on the envelope, as he travelled from New Providence from Eleuthera on December 5, 2023.
Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs ordered the forfeiture of funds saying she was satisfied that it was derived from the proceeds of unlawful conduct or intended to be used for unlawful conduct.
The court heard that Annison François had told police that an unknown man gave him an envelope with the money but that he was detained by police after security screeners noticed a suspicious package in his carry-on bag.
He was arrested after police found him in possession of US$19,650. The prosecution said that the police were able to trace the origin of US$4,040 of the amount during a subsequent investigation.
Regarding the $15,650 balance, police said that François did not claim ownership, but said it had been handed to him by a stranger, who told him to call the number on the envelope. But the police said that they called the number on several occasions and no one ever answered.
The court was also told no one came forward to claim the money.