Prominent businessman Edward Laing has been acquitted of smuggling 1,480 rounds of ammunition of various calibers from the United States to New Providence in 2014.

The 71-year-old owner of Bahamas Box Limited was moved to tears yesterday as Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt told him that he had been cleared of the charges of ammunition possession with intent to supply, ammunition importation and submitting a false declaration to customs.

Officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit and customs officers searched two containers from the Mediterranean Shipping Company on September 16, 2014 that were warehoused after they were not cleared within the required time, according to the evidence.

The containers remained on the dock from September 9 to 16, the court heard.

The containers were said to contain 80 corrugated boxes. However, the officers found four automobiles, grocery items and a gray plastic receptacle that contained an assortment of ammunition.

Laing denied any association with the containers or their contents during an interview with police. He admitted doing business with the Mediterranean Shipping Company.

In assessing the evidence, Ferguson-Pratt said that no evidence was led that the seals on the containers were the same when they entered the port and when they were opened by law enforcement. She said the prosecution led evidence that Laing's personal password was used to create the customs form, which corresponded to documents that were seized from Laing's office.

Ferguson-Pratt said there was no evidence regarding the layout of the office space and whether he had exclusive access to the area.

The magistrate noted that the police seized Laing's computer and phone, but failed to produce an email with the confirmation of the order.

Laing, who did not testify, told the police that an employee knew his password and had taught him how to file the customs documents online.

Ferguson-Pratt said if law enforcement had waited for the container to be claimed and cleared the prosecution would have met the burden to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Artesia Davis, Guardian Senior Reporter

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian