Guilty man to spend time in jail for drug offfences

Persons who get involved in the illegal drug trade must also be willing to accept the hefty penalties that come with it.

Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell sent that strong message today as she sentenced drug trafficker Dale Eugene Gill of Enterprise, Christ Church to a starting sentence of 12 years in prison.

Gill had previously pleaded guilty in the No. 4 Supreme Court to engaging in acts preparatory to, or for the purpose of trafficking 364.9 kilogrammes or 802.7 pounds of cannabis with a street value of $1.6 million. The offence occurred between June 13 and 14, 2018.

He also admitted to importing and trafficking the same amount of marijuana on June 14, 2018.

In handing down the sentence during a virtual sitting of the court this afternoon the High Court judge said that a custodial sentence was justified in Gill’s case. She maintained that only such a sentence would have a deterrent effect in relation to those types of matters.

“Drugs destroy many young lives in Barbados either through its use which often times lead to addiction and inability for persons to function at their full potential robbing this country of its valuable human resources,” the judicial officer said.

“It affects you with the consequential illegal activity that goes along with protecting drug turf which at times results in serious bodily injury or sometimes death between the players.

“A message must be sent to the public that if you are prepared to be involved with the drug trade, be also willing to accept the hefty penalties that accompany it,” she stated.

According to the facts previously outlined by Crown Counsel Joyann Catwell, a search warrant was executed at another man’s residence where 80 boxes were discovered. Sixty-seven of the boxes contained the illegal substance and the others had in pasta. Police investigations led to Gill who disclosed that he had approached a customs broker and gave him money, at the request of someone else, in relation to getting paperwork and paying Government duties for the shipment from St Lucia.

He cooperated with police throughout their investigations, his defence counsel said. However, in her ruling, Justice Smith-Bovell explained that the court was “constrained” to give any large reduction for his cooperation with lawmen.

“He refused to identify key players in the commission of the offence, especially the individual within the Port who was supposed to have assisted. By not identifying the players no investigations could be done and steps taken to prevent any further facilitating of drug trafficking by that individual or within the Port.

“So while credit will be given for your cooperation the court bears in mind that this cooperation was severely limited.

“Your role within the entire transaction was not a major role but the court is of the view that it was not a minor role . . .  in that you had some experience and expertise in this illegal activity,” the Smith-Bovell said.

After outlining the aggravating and mitigating features of the offence and the offender, the judge reduced the 12-year jail sentence by three years and then credited the convicted man with the one-third discount for his guilty plea leaving him with six years.

She also credited him the 953 days he had already spent on remand at Dodds leaving him with 1,237 days or three years, 142 days left to serve.

The sentence was imposed on the offences of engaging in acts preparatory to or for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking of the illegal drugs. The sentences will run concurrently.

He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the importation charge.

Asked why he would take such a chance, Gill responded, “No one ever thinks about getting caught. It is the last thing on anyone’s mind.”

Before the sentence was handed down the convict, who was represented by attorney-at-law Safiyah Moore, apologized to the court and country for his crime.