Cops charge drug traffickers
(CNS): Police said this morning (Tuesday 15 September) that they have charged five people for drug offences in connection with the seizure of a boat and over 600 lbs of ganja. They are 30-year-old Henry Heron from Hanover, Jamaica; 20-year-old Shawn Reid from Westmoreland, Jamaica; 37-year-old Jasper Stewart from Portland, Jamaica; 55-year-old Cleveland Meldon Roxgoughly from Westmoreland, Jamaica and 39-year-old Densel Vic Barnes, from Prospect, Grand Cayman.
The five men will appear in court today to face charges for importation of and possession with intent to supply ganja. They were first arrested during an operation which took place last Tuesday and two other men arrested during the same operation have been released on bail pending further enquiries. Based on estimated street value of the ganja haul which cops seized, based on current street prices, is around $½ million.
The boat carrying the illegal drugs was intercepted off the Spotts coastline of Grand Cayman at around 12:30 am during an operation by police specialist departments, including the Drugs Task Force, Uniform Support Group, joint Customs, Immigration and Police Marine Unit and the Air Operations Unit.
Superintendent Kurt Walton, head of the Marine Unit and DTF, said at the time that the police know drugs and other contraband arrives in the Cayman Islands by boat. “Marine Unit officers, along with other departments, are working hard to protect our borders and intercept these vessels,” he said. “This was a well executed multi-agency operation to target those involved inthe importation of illegal drugs into the Cayman Islands.”
The Maine Unit and Drugs Task Force welcome information about the importation of drugs or reports of suspicious activity at sea or on the coast line. Officers can be contacted directly on 979-7710. People can also call Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.
Category: Headline News
We continue to see the same old names coming up with respect to the drugs trade in this country. What we need is a "three strikes you’re out" law on our books. After that you’re shipped off to the cheapest South American hell hole of a prison we can find. Pay them $10,000 a year per prisoner and guarantee a minimum of our ten worst at any one time.
Enough already!
is it me our does it escape notice that the only persons ever caught or prosecuted are the poor suffers who either drive the boat, and escort the drugs, or if the police get really lucky, the people helping to take the drugs off the boat.
Why is it that we never hear of the persons responcible for purchasing the drugs and arranging its shipment being caught and the houses cars and boats they have being confiscated by the police.
Yes its nice to get the boat and the drugs, but please dont be fooled into thinking that the police are being successful in the so called war on drugs.
I would guage success by the number of houses, cars boats bank accounts and other property seized as a result of investigations into drug activity. Until this starts to happen these seizures are only feel good pills for the press and other to gobble up.
ONE QUESTION, is it possible that prisoners serving more than 5 years be taken somewhere else to do the time, like England for instance. Where they do not know anyone or any place if they escape. My reason for saying this is that we are posing a serious risk to our prison officers and the island keeping them here where they are familiar with every cranny hole if these people may escape.
Bravo to the police for at least looking like they are doing something. However, as numerous studies have shown, it starts with getting away with the small stuff. The police need to crack down on everything. All crime at all levels.
The means a shotgun approach. Hit all levels.
Clamp down on traffic violations. I don’t mean just roadblocks – those are too easy to avoid. You see one, you turn around. The number of moving violations I have witnessed while in the vicinity of police is astounding. They are ignoring them.
Get tough on violence. If there is a fight, throw all parties in a cell until they cool down. Let them get a taste for incarceration and they might think twice before repeating.
Come down on the parents of youngsters skipping school or committing crimes.
If you don’t start with the small stuff, it will grow to more blatent and dangerous crimes.
I am not saying that every person who ignores a red light will turn into a gun-toting gang member.
But I am saying that if you stop them, they will think twice about doing it again. Budgets are tough all around – homes, businesses and the government are all suffering. If you hit me for a $200 speeding ticket, you can be sure I will think twice before speeding again. In the meantime, that $200 would be most welcome in the Government coffers…
In this particular drug case, it is sad to see an old familiar Caymanian name in the mix. Obviously previous punishment did not work here.
But I grew up with this family. He has a younger brother who turned out fine. His parents tried hard. Some will fall through the crack, I guess.
However, that doesn’t mean give up, it means try harder. Try harder with the ones that repeat and try harder to prevent the bigger crimes ever happening.
Get real, you cannot even compare somebody not wearing a seatbelt or doing 25 in a 20 mile an hour zone to one of these drug dealers.
I agree with a stern approach to crime, but treating minor traffic offences which are only misdemeanors the same as somebody stealing or beating someone is ridiculous.
Hitting somebody who cannnot afford it with a $200 speeding ticket is likely to cause more harm than good as they are then forced into a life f crime to pay the tickets, which then leads them deeper when they see the easy money.
Statutory 10 year minimum prison terms for any drug dealing, assault with a weapon or possession of firearms.
Uneducated people say that it’s not fair on the criminals because they are young caymanians who haven’t had a chance in life due to the expats taking their jobs or taking the school places etc. But we all know it’s cr@p because when they are drug running and shooting, it is too late for them, they will never make any useful contribution to society. So we might as well lock them up for a long time and get them off the streets. Maybe one day we will be able to get the prisoners out working and doing hard labour to earn their keep.
It is poor parenting that has produced this generation of Caymanian wanksters and wannabes. There has been no lack of opportunities as the hard working Caymanian youngsters have proved that if they strive to do well, they can get the good jobs, have the high life etc. It is the lazy youths from single parent families and benefit grabbers that are turning the coutry into a shitpit.
"Get real, you cannot even compare somebody not wearing a seatbelt or doing 25 in a 20 mile an hour zone to one of these drug dealers." Absolutely – speeders kill people, no-one died from a joint.
Fully agree that the parents are to blame. And not trying to say the guy running a red light will tote an AK-47on the corner tomorrow – even pointed that out.
Just trying to say, ALL crime needs to be addressed at this point.
To be honest, in a twisted way, I feel safe talking on my cell phone, driving without a seatbelt, running a red light these days – the eyes are not on me!!!
Seriously, 15 years ago, if I was getting away with this, I would not have thought twice about "testing" the next level. Maybe I will try that spliff… Need me to help you bring some stuff in, I can help, and bada-bing, here we are…
The familial unit is not stepping in, so society needs to. Throw the book at these guys – any of them – treat a spliff like a 4000lb canoue of ganja – give them reason to think.
Clearly they are not getting this heavy hand at home….
It is not an overnight thing, it is a transition of ages and one hole WILL lead to more. If not, we would still all be at Holiday Inn sneaking a sip of our parents/guardians/older siblings rum and coke and harmlessly hitting on tourists- not shooting each other up over guns, drugs, women or just because youlooked at me funny…
Think about it…
I have always believed that the way to proceed with the investigation of these drug smuggling operations is to follow the money. Whomever funded this drug buy has some rather deep pockets and they are the prefered target of investigation.
Deep pockets? $5000 for a canoe and drivers and wholesale price on the drugs…
Agree you need to follow the money, but maybe come from the other end at the same time… If they shut down the dealers, who will sell it for them???
We all need to encourage the Police for this burst of enthusiasm to solve the many crimes that are happening in Cayman. They are after all coming out of a long period where events no doubt caused a breakdown of morale in the force. Congrats to Cayman Police who appear to be bouncing back strongly and resolving crimes quickly these days.