Jury convicts cannabis importer

A nine-member jury in the No. 5 Supreme Court has found Venice Keith McKenzie Stephen guilty of possessing, trafficking and importing 15.5 kilogrammes of cannabis into Barbados over five years ago.

Following the summation by Justice Pamela Beckles in the No. 5 Supreme Court on Friday, the nine-member jury returned a verdict convicting Stephen, of Sealy Land, Government Hill, St Michael, of having, trafficking and importing cannabis on July 15, 2020. 

During the trial, the court heard that a customs officer was on duty at EHS Freightline Limited when the accused appeared at the shed, presented his identification card, and gave his name and address. A barrel bearing the name Williams Phillips with a Canadian address, consigned to the accused, was presented to him and when the accused was invited to open the barrel, the customs officer conducted a search during which 40 packages of cannabis were found.  

In his defence, Stephen denied any knowledge of the drugs, saying that he had ordered food.  

He said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he asked a man named Barry, who he had met when he lived in Canada, to send him a barrel. He stated that when he reached Customs, he realised that Barry’s name was not on the barrel and assumed that he had asked Williams to send it. Stephen also told the police that he did not know any Williams Phillips.  

Senior State Counsel Kevin Forde prosecuted the case, while defence counsel Sade Harris represented Stephen.  

Justice Pamela Beckles thanked the jury and ordered a pre-sentence report.  

The case will continue on May 21, and sentencing submissions were scheduled for the following week on May 28.  

Stephen remains on bail.  

(JB)