Visitor fined

An American woman has been fined $19 000 for importing a large amount of marijuana into Barbados.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick ordered Nadia Alisha Ward, a 34-year-old mother of three of Newburg, New York to pay the amount or spend two years at Dodds Prison.

Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley who represented the accused along with attorneys-at-law Simon Clarke and Sade Harris, told the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ located at St Joseph “the fine will be paid shortly”.

When asked by the prosecutor Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls whether the sum would be settled today, so that immigration could be alerted, Lashley repeated that the payment would be made.

Ward who has been on remand since mid-July was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the charges of possession with intent to supply, trafficking and possession.

The drugs, which weighed 19.75 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of $158 000 were discovered on July 5 when Ward arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport from the US with two pieces of luggage.

Nineteen vacuum-sealed packages containing the vegetable substance were found in one suitcase and 20 similar packages in the other.