Norwegian Dream - 2 passengers fined for cannabis possession in Bermuda

**Ally** · 06-23-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

An American tourist received a hefty fine for bringing cannabis into the Island on board a cruise ship.

Robert Beal, 53, of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one charge of importation when he appeared in Magistrates' Court.

The court heard from Crown counsel Michael McColm, that on June 17, the Seaport Enforcement team along with a security guard and a sniffer dog went on board the Norwegian Dream docked at number six shed in Hamilton looking for drugs.

The sniffer dog alerted the officers to a cabin and when they knocked on the door, there was no response. The security guard opened the door and the officers went inside to find the cabin unoccupied.

The sniffer dog alerted the officers to a grey safe. When they opened it, they found a small plastic bag containing plant-like material.

Later that day, the officers met with the cabin's occupant, Beal, who admitted the drugs belonged to him. He was arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station where it was revealed the plant-like material was 6.70 grams of the controlled drug cannabis.

Asked if he had anything to say by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, Beal said: "It's turned my world upside down. I may have lost my daughter and grandchildren. I take full responsibility for this. What you do to me couldn't hurt me more than I already am".

He explained he had recently been reunited with his daughter after 30 years and took her and his three grandchildren on a cruise for a vacation. He added he had been embarrassed by the whole ordeal.

He was fined $2,500 to be paid immediately.

The Royal Gazette

**Ally** · 06-23-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

A cruise ship passenger was fined $3,000 for bringing cannabis and cannabis resin into the Island.

Steven Gelfuso, 51, of Rhode Island, was arrested after officers searched his cabin and found the drugs. He pleaded guilty to the charges in Magistrates' Court.

The court heard from Crown counsel Michael McColm, that the Seaport Enforcement team along with a security guard and a sniffer dog went aboard the Norwegian Dream on June 17 looking for drugs.

While the officers were on his deck, Gelfuso opened his cabin door and the sniffer dog reacted. Officers identified themselves to the defendant and asked him if he had any drugs.

Gelfuso said: "Yes, I have a little pot."

Officers found a small black toiletries bag in the closet containing a Ziploc bag with plant-like material, a brown substance and a homemade pipe.

Gelfuso was arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station where it was revealed the plantlike material was 1.92 grams of the controlled drug cannabis and the brown substance was 0.10 grams of cannabis resin.

Gelfuso apologised to the court and was fined $1,500 for each drug to be paid immediately.

The Royal Gazette

**alphakitty** · 06-23-2008, 12:57 PM

New England is getting a bad reputation here.

While I personally don't think smoking a little pot to be a major crime against humanity

, I DO think it's pretty stupid to bring it with you on travels...especially to a foreign country!

**Ally** · 06-23-2008, 01:00 PM

Catching two on the same ship and on the same day must have been an embarrassment all round. I agree that recreational use occasionally is fine as long as you do so in the privacy of your own home...but taking it abroad on holiday is just asking for trouble. Both these passengers paid dearly for their stupidity, but I doubt the fines will put people off doing exactly the same thing in the future.