HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct 23, CMC – A 33-year-old American national, who arrived here last Thursday to attend a wedding, has been fined US$3,000 for importing just over 50 grams of marijuana into Bermuda.
“I apologise to the courts, I wasn’t aware you can’t bring over cannabis. I pointed out where it was, I wasn’t trying to hide anything. I just wanted to come and have a good time, “ Kiaya Thompson said as she pleaded guilty in the Magistrates’ Court when she appeared before Magistrate Maria Sofianos to bringing in 51.35 grams of cannabis on a commercial airline on October 17.
The court was told that Thompson, who resides in Maryland was stopped during customs control at LF Wade International Airport and had her bag searched.
An officer found plant material rolled up in a sock. When asked if there was any more in her luggage, Thompson confirmed there was another package, which the officer found in her bag.
She was arrested and escorted to Hamilton Police Station, where the material was processed and confirmed to be cannabis.
Attorney Nicole Smith told the court that her client had insisted the drugs were intended for personal use only, and highlighted that she had entered an early guilty plea and apologised for her mistake.
CMC/af/2024