Trinidadians slapped with a $100,000 fine

Four Trinidadians, charged with drugs and immigration violation, were ordered to pay a total of $100,000 dollars immediately for illegally possessing and trafficking over 100,000 grammes of cannabis.

Damian Baptiste, 29; Shaqkeim Bolah, 21; Isaiah Phillips, 23; and Jayrun Abraham, 21, of Trinidad & Tobago appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate Colin John on October 24, 2024, where they were fined a total of $100,000 for illegally possessing and trafficking 108,960 grams of cannabis. They were also charged, alongside Vincentian, Tevin Williams with conspiracy to traffic. However, this charge was dismissed. The facts are that at about 2:00 p.m on on the date in question, police officers from the Rapid Response Unit, Narcotics Unit and Special Service Unit were on patrol in the Petit Bordel Mountain where they saw a small open hut with a man lying inside, who identified himself as a Trinidadian.

The officers proceeded to search him and the hut but found nothing illegal Some officers stayed with the man, while others trailed up the mountain. When the officers got to the top, they discovered a hut and a shed with what appeared to be cannabis, and three Trinidadian males lying inside. They were immediately arrested. There was also dried cannabis, and other dried plants tied up in different bundles under the shed.

A white nylon sack with several transparent vacuum-sealed packages containing plant materials resembling that of cannabis with the name “SATIVA” written on them, was also found. When the three men were cautioned and questioned, they told the police that the weed belonged to them, and that they were planting marijuana for a man named “Bucky” from Petit Bordel.

Police Constable (PC) Wickham pointed out the offence of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply and for the purpose of drug trafficking in the presence of PC Jack. The three men said that the first man whom the police met, planted marijuana with them. When the police searched the entire area for other illegal items, none was found.

The officers gathered the dried cannabis plants and the white nylon sack together as exhibits and,along with the men headed to the Narcotics Unit’s base in Arnos Vale, where the cannabis was weighed, amounting to 108,960 grams (240 lbs). The drugs were later sampled. PC Wickham then reminded the men that they were still under caution and questioned them.

The first man who the police met on the mountain said there weren’t enough bunk bed for him to sleep where the other three were staying, so he slept in the lower hut, but assisted the others during the day to plant the cannabis. The Trinidadians told the police that they illegally entered Union Island by boat, then travelled to Kingstown on Bequia Express.

On arrival at the Kingstown wharf, they met with a man they knew as “Bucky” from Petit Bordel, who arranged transportation for them to go to Petit Bordel. They purchased marijuana seeds from “Bucky” to plant on the mountainside where they were caught. They had been in the country for approximately eight months. The men also admitted ownership of the marijuana and said they had planned to transport the marijuana to Trinidad and Tobago by boat.

After questioning, they were transported to the Central Police Station where they remained in custody pending further investigation. On October 4, 2024 ‘Bucky’ was taken into custody. The Trinidadians were escorted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where they and Bucky admitted knowing each other.

Bucky, who identified himself as Tevin Matthews, was informed of the matter that was being investigated. Matthews then volunteered a written caution statement and admitted that he communicated with the Trinidadians via social media to come to St. Vincent to plant marijuana. He met them at the Kingstown wharf where he provided transportation to Petit Bordel and gave them marijuana seeds to plant.

After hearing the facts, Senior Magistrate John ordered each of the men to pay $25,000 dollars forthwith or spend one year in jail. He also ordered that the men be removed from the State and that the drugs be destroyed.