BERMUDA (BERNEWS.COM).- On Tuesday in Magistrates Court five men – including the two Carefree IV sailors – appeared on drug related charges stemming from the two marine interceptions this past Friday. All five men were charged with being in the “territorial waters of Bermuda possessing cannabis intended for supply,” with the cannabis said to be worth $3.4 million.

Carlos Rogers, 41, and Kwesi Hollis, 36, who had sailed from the Dominican Republic, were charged alongside three other men – Bilal Shakir, 39, Kinola Simons, 30, and Shaun Johnson, 27.

They first appeared in court at 10 a.m. however but charges were not laid, and the five men reappeared at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon when they were formally charged. Dozens of onlookers gathered outside the courtroom, as they were escorted from Hamilton Police Station by approximately a dozen Police officers this morning.

When the five men reappeared in court this afternoon prosecutor Cindy Clarke laid out the charges.

The first charge – applied to all five men – between a date unknown and the 21st of January, 2011, they conspired with others not before the court to import cannabis.

The second charge – applied to all five men – between a date unknown and the 21st of January, 2011, were in the territorial waters of Bermuda possessing cannabis intended for supply.

The third charge – applied to three men: Bilal Shakir, Kinola Simons, and Shaun Johnson – handling cannabis with intent to supply.

The cannabis was said to be worth $3.4 million on the streets.

The men received bail in the amount of $30,000 each, with a surety, and must surrender travel documents and report three times a week to the Police. They are set to reappear for mention next month.

Top row left is Kwesi Hollis, with Carlos Rogers on the right. Bottom row left is Shaun Johnson, with Bilal Shakir on the right. Click to enlarge images:

Mr Rogers and Mr Hollis left the Dominican Republic on December 1, 2010 on the Carefree IV yacht, and were due to arrive in Bermuda that same month.

On December 18, a diverted merchant ship provided the Carefree IV with emergency supplies. The crew had requested assistance as they had run out of food, water and gasoline. In late December, a U.S. Coastguard C-130 aircraft conducted an aerial search for the missing 31-foot boat.

On January 3rd, local officials received a report from a passing boat that they had been in contact with the Carefree IV, saying the crew were safe, and requested provisions and fresh water to continue their voyage to Bermuda.

On Friday January 21, seven weeks after leaving their destination, the Carefree IV sailed into St George’s Harbour, having been boarded by armed Police officers.

Police arrested both Mr Hollis and Mr Rogers and searched the boat before hoisting the boat ashore, and transporting it to Southside Police Station.

Earlier that same morning, the Marine Police stopped a Boston whaler in the North Shore area, seized a quantity of suspected narcotics and arrested three men.