Woman denies trying to import $266,000 worth of cannabis
A 22-year-old woman was caught with more than $250,000 of cannabis at LF Wade Airport by Customs officers, a court was told yesterday.Isarell Janice Wolffe, of Cedar Park, Devonshire, has denied charges of importing cannabis to Bermuda on February 26 this year and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.According to a Government analyst, the drugs weighed 5,233.01g and could reportedly fetch as much as $266,000 on Bermuda’s streets if sold in 0.5g twists.At Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Customs officer Jonae Smith said she searched Ms Wolffe’s bags after she arrived on the Island on a flight from Atlanta.Inside Ms Wolffe’s bag, Ms Smith said she found two boxes in a Walmart bag, one box for a water fountain, and the second for a video game. Both boxes appeared to be factory sealed.“When I lifted the boxes, I realised that her carotid artery was pulsating faster than normal,” Ms Smith said.She opened the boxes, revealing a total of three packages wrapped in black tape and containing plantlike material.Asked where she had got the original boxes, Ms Wolffe told Ms Smith: “You can call the police and get my lawyer,” the court heard.Ms Smith testified that she and fellow Customs officer Jenay Emory went to carry out a personal search of Ms Wolffe, but said the defendant refused.She said it was only after Ms Emory went to inform a supervising officer about the refusal that Ms Wolffe agreed to the search, which proved negative.In cross examination, defence attorney Victoria Pearman questioned both Ms Smith and Ms Emory, suggesting that it was Ms Smith who went to inform the supervising officer.She also questioned if Ms Smith could see her client’s neck, saying that her client wore a buttoned up shirt which would have hidden her carotid artery.Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo ordered that the trial resume on September 27 and released Ms Wolffe on bail.