Cruise ship passenger with cocaine fined

Court fine: a passenger on the Norwegian Gem was caught with cocaine in his cabin(File photograph)



A Massachusetts man who was caught with cocaine in his cruise ship cabin was ordered to pay $750 before he can leave the island.

Kyle Melannson, 29, from Leominster, pleaded guilty yesterday to importing cocaine and THC  the active ingredient in cannabis  into Bermuda in an incident on September 3.

The court heard the drugs were found in a search of his cabin by the crew of the Norwegian Gem.

Melannson admitted to police that the drugs, 0.2 grams of cocaine and a vape cartridge that contained THC, belonged to him.

He told the court he was concerned about his ability to pay a fine because he had no money and the ship left Bermuda on Tuesday.

Melannson said: On the first night I slept outside. Im scared, sir. Im afraid I cannot pay.

I apologise to all for this situation. I just want to go home and I will do my best to get the money and get the plane to go home.

Charles Richardson, duty counsel, said Melannson had no previous convictions here or in the United States and that the drugs were not intended for supply.

He added that he had advised the defendant to contact family and friends overseas to secure the money to pay for whatever fine he received.

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe fined Melannson $500 for the cocaine and another $250 for the THC.

The magistrate also ordered that the fines be paid in full before Melannson is able to leave the country.

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