Grenadian scrambles to raise $2,500 drugs fine, but is jailed

A Grenadian was left scrambling to pay $2,500 forthwith after pleading guilty to illegal drug possession, drug trafficking, and drug importation, but failed in his attempt to evade a jail term.

Dennis David of Grenada appeared at the Serious Offences Court yesterday June 17, 2024, where he pleaded guilty to three drug offences.

David was charged that on June 15, 2024 in Kingstown, he imported 1073 grammes of cannabis; had it in his possession with intent to supply to another; and possessed the controlled drug for the purpose of drug trafficking.

The facts read that on the date in question, at around 5:10 p.m, a team of narcotics officers, acting on information received, headed to the port in Kingstown.

On arrival, one of the officers observed that a vessel was docked at the port. The officer boarded the vessel where he met and spoke with a preventative officer from the Customs Department.

The conversation was conducted in the presence of all the crew members. The police officer learnt that a black plastic bag containing a cardboard box was found on the vessel, and in that box were plant-like material resembling cannabis.

The officer introduced himself to the crew members as a police officer, and informed them of his duties at the port. The officer proceeded to show the crew the cardboard box and its contents.

He cautioned them in the presence of another police officer. Each member denied having knowledge of the cardboard box and its contents, except for David.

David informed the officer that a man named Freddy, gave him the bag to bring to St Vincent where someone would collect it. However, David said that he did not know the person in St Vincent who was supposed to collect the bag from him.

David was taken to the Narcotics base in Arnos Vale, along with the exhibits. The cannabis, weighed in David’s presence, amounted to 1073 grammes.

David was then escorted to the Central Police Station. On the following day, he admitted to being in possession of the contents in the bag. He was charged for the offences of illegal possession of a controlled drug; drug trafficking; and importation of drugs.

After the facts were read, David said they were accurate. However, the Grenadian claimed that he did not search the bag to see what was inside, and that he was simply doing a favour.

Senior Magistrate John told David that he “should be more aware than to just take things from people”. Prosecutor, Renrick Cato informed the court that David is a non-national, and is a crew member.

He also said that David entered St Vincent legally, that is, through a port of entry. When sentencing, Senior Magistrate John noted that the maximum penalty for this offence is seven years imprisonment.

He informed David that he will be considering the consequences and seriousness of the offence, as suggested in the sentencing guidelines. John considered that cannabis is a Class B drug; that Davis had no previous convictions; that he pleaded guilty to the offence; and that he cooperated with the police in the investigations.

Aggravating of the offence is that the drug was imported and there was some level of planning and organisation when the offence was committed.

For the offence of possession of a controlled drug, David was fined $500 to be paid forthwith or three months in prison.

He also was fined $1,000 for each of the offences of importing the cannabis, and drug trafficking. These fines were also to be paid forthwith in default of which David would spend three months in prison for each offence. John told David that if the court granted him time to pay, he might head back to Grenada and not return to pay the fines.

A destruction order also was made for the cannabis. After David was sentenced, he was seen outside the courtroom making phone calls ostensibly to obtain the money before the police transport arrived to take him to prison.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that David was unable to source the money before the arrival of the police transport, and was taken away to prison.