By Stephanie Hamilton From IRIE FM

Two Jamaican men, among a crew on-board a fishing boat, were jailed in the Cayman Islands, for ganja possession.

A K-9 unit reportedly found the illicit weed, hidden inside a stereo speaker box. Reports in the Cayman Compass are that two men from the fishing boat Shiloh appeared in Summary court on the weekend, and pleaded guilty to possession of over 13 ounces of ganja.

They are 25 year old Ricardo Dale Johnson of Clarendon, and 54 year old Roger Agosten Cayasso, of Kingston.

The court imposed prison sentences of seven days’ each, with credit for time served.

The men had already pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of importing the ganja, when they appeared in court on Tuesday, March 8.

After hearing submissions from attorney John Furniss, Magistrate Kirsty-ann Gunn allowed this charge to lie on file.

Leaving the importation charge on file means that it was not proceeded with at this time, but it could be brought back if circumstances changed.

If nothing further occurs, the charge could be dismissed after six months.

Reports are that the 90-foot vessel was outside Cayman’s territorial waters when it developed engine problems, broke down and had to be towed in.

The two crew members admitted having the ganja for their personal use, but denied any intention to import it.

Senior crown counsel Tanya Lobban said the pleas to possession were acceptable.

The magistrate said the amount was larger than usual for personal use. She also agreed that the men had expected to be at sea for a long period of time.

Senior Crown counsel Lobban said a customs K-9 unit alerted officers to a black speaker box located near a top bunk in the crew quarters.

Johnson identified the stereo and speaker box as his. When the speaker box was opened, officers found vegetable matter wrapped in two plastic bags. The matter was field tested and showed positive for ganja.

Further questioning led to both men admitting having it in collaboration, intending it for their personal use.

The vessel remains at a port in Cayman, pending repair. The defence lawyer expressed hope that the defendants would have served their sentence by the time the Shiloh was ready to depart.

Meantime, the Cayman Islands Customs and Immigration department says all 32 crew members had been processed and temporarily admitted to the islands after the vessel’s arrival last Tuesday.

For more on this story go to: http://iriefm.net/jamaicans-jailed-in-cayman-on-drug-charges/