Bermuda: Mechanic jailed for 20 years

A self-employed Bermudian mechanic has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting to import US$10 million worth of drugs and ammunition into Bermuda.

Justice Charles-Etta Simmons imposed the lengthy jail term on 46-year-old Victor Roberts, who had originally denied the offences, but pleaded guilty to an amended indictment on Tuesday.

He admitted to conspiring with unidentified people to import controlled drugs and 200 rounds of ammunition.

Roberts reportedly travelled to the United States a year ago and hid the huge haul in the false bottom of an industrial compressor.

The self-employed mechanic made the modifications to the compressor himself and then made arrangements for it to be shipped back to Bermuda.

However, Roberts was under surveillance by police and customs throughout the operation and was arrested as he began cutting the false bottom open outside his Warwick home on July 25.