Flight attendant charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine at airport granted $1m bail

The flight attendant who was arrested last Monday at the Norman Manley airport in Kingston after allegedly attempting to smuggle 7.5 pounds of cocaine hidden in his luggage to the United States was today granted $1 million bail.

Troy Ingleton, 49, a dual Jamaican and American citizen, was arrested and charged last Wednesday with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, attempting to export cocaine, and conspiracy to export cocaine.

He was offered bail by Parish Judge Alwaine Smith when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, following a bail application by his attorney, Matthew Hyatt.

According to a police report, on October 13, about 8:00 a.m., Ingleton was scheduled to board a JetBlue Airways flight destined for New York, USA, when anomalies were detected in his luggage during routine security screening.

Personnel from the Firearm and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) conducted a detailed search of his luggage and reportedly found a pouch containing two rectangular packages of cocaine, weighing 3.4 kilogrammes or 7.5 pounds.

He was taken into custody and subsequently charged.

The illicit drug has an estimated street value of $2.9 million.

Ingleton is to return to court on January 19 next year.

In the meantime, Ingleton is under investigation for excess rounds after police reportedly found more than 120 rounds of ammunition at his home during a search.

A licensed 9mm pistol was also found.

- Tanesha Mundle

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.