The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN American tourist who tried to travel back to the United States with marijuana gummies and brownies was yesterday fined $200.

Police arrested Kathryn Gavin after they found the items which contained about six grams of Indian hemp, among her belongings on Monday.

The court was told officers stationed at Lynden Pindling International Airport were called to the US Customs hall around 1pm. When they arrived, they spoke with an American border patrol officer who pointed out Gavin and a brown plastic package containing three marijuana brownies. The prosecution said two containers with seven marijuana gummies and six marijuana cigarettes were also brought to the attention of the officers. Gavin was subsequently arrested and transported to the Drug Enforcement Unit. When she was questioned in custody, she admitted the offence.

When Gavin appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes yesterday, she pleaded guilty to one count of possession.

She also told the magistrate she only brought the marijuana with her when she travelled to the country because she was “unaware it was still illegal” and “under the impression that the drug had been decriminalised”.

In response, Magistrate Forbes told her the information concerning The Bahamas’ drug laws was available online. He also said he was surprised that Gavin was able to get past the US Transportation Security Administration with drugs in her possession. He told Gavin she was not the first American to have gotten caught with illegal drugs in The Bahamas in the past two weeks, which “suggested there was a deficiency at the US border that was posing a problem on the country’s end”. As a result, he fined the defendant $200 or two months in prison. He told Gavin once she paid the fine she would be released to the Department of Immigration who would help facilitate her return to the US.

Yesterday, Chester Dickerson appeared before Magistrate Forbes after he was charged with the same offence.

The 21-year-old was arrested after officers found six silver foil wraps in his home on March 21.

The court was told officers proceeded to Dickerson’s Johnson Alley residence armed with a search warrant. Upon their arrival they identified themselves and informed the defendant of their search. During their investigation, officers found one marijuana joint lying on a window sill in Dickerson’s bedroom. The prosecution said officers found five more silver foil wraps underneath the accused’s mattress. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

During the hearing Dickerson pleaded guilty. His attorney, McKell Bonaby, told the magistrate his client owned up to the offence because he was remorseful and did not want to waste the court’s time.

As a result, Magistrate Forbes granted the defendant a conditional discharge on the agreement he would attend drug counselling for 12 months. He warned him if he failed to comply with the conditions of his release, he would be convicted and sentenced to three months behind bars.