Navy veteran’s death: five arrested on drug charges
By Press Association From theguardian.com,
Four men and woman bailed after death of Joromie Lewis, who fell ill after consuming drink containing lethal amount of cocaine
Five people have been arrested on suspicion of drug offences in connection with the death of a Royal Navy veteran who died after drinking a drink laced with cocaine.
Joromie Lewis, 33, of Gosport, Hampshire, became ill immediately after drinking the fruit drink, which contained a lethal amount of the drug.
His death on 5 December led the Food Standards Agency to issue an alert to all local authorities to contact retailers to withdraw any bottles of Pear D from their shelves. Detectives believe the drink may have been used by drug smugglers to import cocaine into the country in a liquid form.
Hampshire police have arrested four men and a woman who have since been bailed pending further inquiries.
Detective Superintendent Dick Pearson said: “This is a complex investigation covering the circumstances surrounding Mr Lewis’s death, as well as the drug-trafficking offences.
“Mr Lewis’s family have been kept up to date with developments, including these five arrests for drugs offences.”
Details of the arrests came as a private family funeral was being held on Monday for Lewis in his home town.
Lewis died at Southampton general hospital within hours of consuming the drink.
A Hampshire police spokesman said they were investigating whether the drink had been used to smuggle cocaine into the UK in a liquid form. The inquiry was continuing and they were awaiting toxicology results to establish an exact cause of death, the spokesman said.
Police have established that the bottle of Cole Cold Pear D fruit drink was manufactured in the Caribbean and the company did not export this drink to the UK.
Lewis’s widow, Jayrusha Lewis, said in a statement released after his death that her husband was a “selfless and devoted family man”.
She said: “Joromie Lewis was a Royal Navy veteran, originally from St Vincent and the Grenadines. He was a devoted family-oriented man with a selfless attitude to help others, and always knew the right words and advice to give.
“His exemplary conduct and actions touched the lives and hearts of many.
Two men and a woman from Southampton, all aged 37, were arrested on 23 December and have been bailed until 8 April 2014.
Two men aged 33 and 39, both from London, were arrested on 20 and 22 December. The 33-year-old has been bailed until 3 April and the 39-year-old has been bailed until 8 April.
PHOTO: Joromie Lewis, who died after drinking a pear drink manufactured in the Caribbean that contained a lethal amount of cocaine. Photograph: Hampshire Constabulary/PA
For more on this story go to:
See also iNews Cayman related story on December 15 2013 “Britain issues warning after Vincentian dies from cocaine-laced Caribbean drink” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/britain-issues-warning-after-vincentian-dies-from-cocaine-laced-caribbean-drink/
