Three Jamaican Nationals, Wesley Oliver Barrett, Tetla Charles Warner and Paul Samuel Betty were sentenced last Thursday (7) for importing ganja into the Cayman Islands from Jamaica early this year.

About 9.40pm on Tuesday, 22 January 2013, Marine Unit officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) were on patrol aboard Niven D in the waters off East End when they spotted a canoe inside the reef. They immediately initiated a land, air and sea operation involving officers from the Eastern Districts, the Uniform Support Group, the K-9 Unit and the RCIPS Air Operations Unit.

As the drugs boat landed, officers chased and arrested Barrett, Warner and Betty who had been on board the canoe. Several rounds of ammunition and 350 (three hundred and fifty) pounds of Ganja were recovered.

All three men pleaded guilty to the importation of the Ganja, Barrett and Warner for the 350lbs, and Betty for just 10lbs. Betty informed the police he had paid $500 for the trip because he wanted “a better life”.

All three men had been deported previously from the Cayman Islands.

The men co-operated with the police and gave them a description of the Caymanian individual who organised the shipment.

Defence attorney John Furniss argued their case before Chief Magistrate Nova Hall saying they should be given credit for their compliance.

The magistrate agreed.

Warner and Barrett were given terms of three years; Betty received one year.