BVI national jailed for trafficking marijuana

A 21-year-old man from the British Virgin Islands (BVI), will spend the next six months at her Majesty’s Prison in St. Vincent for attempting to export marijuana.
Kemiah Nichols, whose parents are Vincentians, was returning to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, when police nabbed him with 16 grammes of marijuana at Argyle International Airport.
He was charged with drug possession with intent to supply, as well as drug transportation, and trafficking.
Nichols initially pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court .
The prosecution did not object to bail but asked that Nichols be ordered to surrender his travel documents and that the matter be adjourned and transferred to the Serious Offences Court.
However, the defendant told the court that he wanted to change his plea to guilty.
The court heard that about 6:45 a.m. (local time), on June 26, a police constable was on duty at the departure security checkpoint at the airport.
While there, he observed the security officers searching the defendant’s luggage in the presence of the defendant.
A police officer on conducting a search, found the drug in one of Nichols’ pants pockets.
When cautioned, Nichols said, “I forgot those in my pocket”.
Nichols told the court that he had come to St. Vincent for a relative’s funeral.
In court, the magistrate said that based on the law of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, possession of more than 16 grammes of marijuana would attract charges of possession with intent to supply for drug trafficking.
He pointed out that a person guilty of such an offence can be fined up to EC$100,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) or sentenced to up to 10 years in jail on summary conviction and up to life imprisonment, if convicted by the High Court.
Burnett said the most aggravating feature of the case was that the man was nabbed with the drugs at the airport.
He said that though the amount of drug may seem small, the penalty is severe
Nicols was to six months for the drug trafficking charge, three months for the drug transportation, and reprimanded and discharged him on the drug possession charge.
The sentences will run concurrently.