Tourists arrested by customs for drugs and bullets

(CNS): The Customs Department made two arrests earlier this month of visitors to the islands and have warned of more as officers urge people to be honest about their disclosures and not to bring illegal goods when travelling to Cayman. Last Thursday officers arrested a visitor for possession of drugs and he remains on bail while a woman who was arrested on 3 November has been charged and fined $1000 after a single bullet was found in her luggage. Collector of Customs, Samantha Bennett, said: “Despite the evolving range of challenges at our borders and other Customs controlled areas, partnerships are consistently proving essential in addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow.”

She said that customs was and would continue working with the Department of Tourism on an education campaign outlining details of the restricted and prohibited items in Cayman for tourists.

“Over the past couple of months we have seen a constant increase in the detection of such items being brought in by casual visitors,” she added.

Deputy Collector (Enforcement), Marlon Bodden, explained that the clamp down was as a result of the hard work of officers and more was coming. “Effective enforcement cannot be achieved without motivated officers. Our officers are already doing a great job and stronger enforcement is looming,” he said, adding that with the festive season approaching Customs would like to support legitimate trade and travel.

“We are therefore pleading with the public to make the necessary disclosures to authorities and not to take illegal items or substances on travel to the Cayman Islands”.

Anyone with information relating to the transport of restricted and prohibited items across the Cayman Islands borders is asked to contact HM Customs’ confidential tip-line on 1-800-534-8477, to email tell.us@customs.gov.ky, or to telephone Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS).