A United States citizen visiting Barbados for the first time has vowed “never” to find herself in a similar situation after she was caught importing illegal drugs into the island.
Shakeena Lynette James, 40, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna on Friday, where she pleaded guilty to four drug-related offences, including possession, trafficking, possession with intent to supply, and importation of 24.2 pounds of cannabis valued at BDS$176,000.
James, from Massachusetts Avenue, Southwest Marietta in Georgia, was fined BDS$80,000 (approximately US$40,000) to be paid immediately or face 12 months imprisonment.
The court heard that James arrived at Grantley Adams International Airport on a Delta flight from Atlanta. After clearing immigration, she collected a hard-shell suitcase and proceeded to customs, where authorities searched her bag and found 20 black vacuum-sealed packages containing vegetable matter. The police were called.
James told the court, “A few days before boarding the flight, my deceased husband’s friend asked if I wanted to be a part of his entourage on his trip to Barbados, and I agreed. He provided me with the flight information and other details. He took me to the airport and asked me to take his luggage with mine as he was flying in the following day. I went along with his request.”
“I am guilty. I should have checked, and I apologise to the country of Barbados, ’cause this is not me,” she added.
Magistrate McKenna, noting James’ age, said: “How many TV shows are there where people get caught bringing in things and say that it is somebody else’s, whether it is true or not?”
“By now, everybody should know, you don’t bring things for people without checking to see what they are giving you to bring. A whole suitcase and you don’t know what is in it?…You should have said, ‘Unless you’re packing this suitcase in my presence or unless you are opening it in my presence, I am not taking it.’ You cannot trust anybody nowadays!” the magistrate stressed.
James was convicted on the charge of trafficking, reprimanded, and discharged on the remaining charges.
“On your release, I am going to order that you be handed over to immigration. Please do not find yourself in this position again,” Magistrate McKenna said, to which James replied, “Never,” thanking the court as she left the dock.
