Boat captain jailed for possession, trafficking of $1.5M in cannabis

Madam Justice Pamela Beckles has jailed a “drug dealer” whose boat was seized with $1.53 million in cannabis in the island’s territorial waters just over four years ago.

Jamar Jamal Williams, of Road View, St Peter, had previously pleaded guilty in the No. 5 Supreme Court to the charge that on November 26, 2021, while on Saggitarius, a Barbadian ship off Stroud Bay, St Lucy, he had 191.25 kilogrammes of cannabis. He also admitted to trafficking the drug.

“I find as captain of the vessel, you are clearly a drug dealer as any person in possession of that amount of drugs is deemed to be trafficking those drugs. I therefore consider your role or level of culpability to be significant,” Justice Beckles told Williams.

Noting that he was 33 years old when he committed the offences, the judge told the 37-year-old man: “You are not particularly young, and you should have been mature enough to know better. You have previous convictions for similar offences and have already spent time in prison for similar offences on at least three occasions. After reviewing the submissions and the cases cited, you are hereby sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for each of these offences, which are to run concurrently.”

The judge identified several aggravating factors related to the offence, including its nature and gravity, the amount of drugs involved, the fact that the operation was premeditated, and Williams’ role in the crime as the captain of the ship.

Giving a 12-year starting sentence, Justice Beckles pointed out that Williams had 11 previous convictions, nine of which were for drug offences. She also pointed out that he was assessed as having a high risk of recidivism.

“Illegal drugs are a scourge which has caused a great deal of harm and misery on society in a country such as ours while it has become prevalent in the last couple of decades,” the judge said. “Any sentence which this court imposes must serve as a warning for those who engage in illegal drugs, whether it be for possession, trafficking or supplying to others, that they will receive severe punishment.”

After sentencing Williams to 12 years, the judge deducted one-third for his early admission of guilt, 1 182 days for his time on remand and 180 days for the delay, leaving him to serve 1 558 days.

She also advised him to enrol in any drug treatment or vocational programme available at the penal institution.

The facts of the case disclosed to the court were that the Coast Guard intercepted a vessel off St Lucy, and two men were seen on board along with several bulky packages. Williams and the other man identified themselves, and the officers told them they suspected that the four taped brown packages and six white polythene bags contained illegal drugs.

The two men were taken to the HMBS Pelican Base, where members of the police drug squad were waiting.

Williams, in his oral statements, told the police, “All of dese is mine. I mean dese bags of marijuana belong to me. That’s the boat I get hold on with the drugs. I ain’t wasting no time. I get catch with drugs.”

In addition, he cleared the other man in the boat of any wrongdoing, saying he knew nothing about the drugs.