Bermuda trio face five year prison term in Puerto Rico
Three Bermudians have admitted plotting to possess more than $13 million worth of cannabis, with intent to supply, after their yacht was busted in the Caribbean.Shawn Simmons, Raymont Francis and Antoine Russell were caught red-handed with 16 bales of marijuana and a brick of hashish on their Bermuda-registered sailboat Phantasea, on December 1, 2010. They are now facing five years’ imprisonment in Puerto Rico after admitting to the plot and striking a plea agreement with prosecutors.According to Special Agent Roxana Pulido of the Department of Justice, the US Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless spotted the 34-foot sailboat in international waters in the Mona Passage; the strait between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.The coast guard was patrolling the area, which is known as “an area prominently utilised as a drug trafficking route”, according to Ms Pulido.The coast guard vessel lit the Phantasea with a spotlight and hailed it, causing it to immediately change course. The Dauntless then intercepted the vessel and boarded it after receiving permission to do so from Governor Sir Richard Gozney.Ms Pulido said Simmons, 39, from Warwick, was captain of the ship, and he refused to let the USCG on board, claiming they did not have authority. They were eventually allowed onto the vessel after proving they had permission, and found co-pilot Francis, 38, from Devonshire, and the ship’s engineer, Russell on board.The USCG team then located the drugs which were in “plain view”, according to Ms Pulido. The 16 bales of marijuana weighed 30 kilograms or 705 pounds, which is a third of a ton. Ms Pulido added: “During the boarding, Shawn Simmons asked what would happen to him and his crew, to which one of the boarding officers answered that it was up to the Government of Bermuda.“Simmons responded ‘what do you think my Government is going to do when you tell them we’re trying to smuggle weed into the United States?’”Ms Pulido added that while the drugs were being tested, Simmons and Russell asked “if it was good weed”.The trio were taken into custody and the Bermuda Government waived jurisdiction over the case to the United States, although the Bermuda Police believe the drugs were ultimately destined for Bermuda.The men were taken to the US island of Puerto Rico and charged in the US District Court there. They’ve remained in custody since, and entered guilty pleas on March 23. They are due to be sentenced in June.According to court documents, each man agreed with prosecutors that he should receive 60 months in jail; the statutory minimum term out of a maximum of 40 years.The sentence was calculated on the basis that each defendant is accountable for conspiring to possess between 100 and 400 kilograms of cannabis. The second charge they faced, of possessing the drugs, has been dismissed. Each man has agreed to forfeit all monies, properties and proceeds from the offence and any property used to commit it.That indicates the Phantasea will have to be surrendered to the US authorities.A Bermuda Police spokesman said after the vessel was intercepted that it was a joint operation between Bermuda Maritime Operation Centre, customs and police from Bermuda and law enforcement agencies in the US. He explained the drugs were estimated to be worth in excess of $13 million if sold on the streets of Bermuda.Yesterday, Superintendent Andrew Boyce said: “The arrest by the US Coast Guard and prosecution of the three Bermudians on the vessel Phantasea in the Caribbean area is a clear example of the degree of cooperation which exists between the law enforcement agencies in Bermuda and in the United States.“This joint effort has prevented a significant quantity of illegal drugs from reaching the streets of Bermuda where considerable harm could have been caused and persons could have enriched themselves with ill gotten gains.“We will spare no effort to arrest persons involved in drug importation, seize drug shipments and dismantle drug smuggling rings. We are aware that the proceeds derived from some drug smuggling operations are used to support other criminality, including gang violence.“We therefore urge anyone with information on the importation or trafficking of illegal drugs to pass this information on to the Police at 295-0011 or the independent, confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hotline at 800-8477.”