A Canadian woman caught with almost $1.8 million worth of cannabis hidden in her suitcase was jailed for two years yesterday.

Mara Faiazza, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of importation of a controlled drug related to an incident on May 19.

Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe said that while the offence was serious, noting the large amount of drugs seized, the defendant had showed genuine remorse and provided “substantial” help to officials.

He said that while the offence would usually carry a sentence of eight years in prison, Faiazza was entitled to a 75 per cent discount for her assistance.

“I trust and hope that, during the time you are incarcerated and once you finish, you do provide advice to those young women and men that they must be very careful about who they associate with — because it could end literally in tears,” he said.

Prosecutor Adley Duncan told the court that Faiazza flew to the country from Toronto with a checked grey suitcase.

He said a customs K9 unit showed interest in Faiazza’s checked-in suitcase as it sat on the baggage carousel waiting to be collected.

After Faiazza picked up her luggage, she was selected by customs officers for a secondary inspection.

Faiazza initially said she had packed her bag herself but when she was asked for the combination to open the locked suitcase, she said it belonged to a friend.

She told officials that her friend had given her the suitcase at Toronto Pearson International Airport before her flight and that someone else who knew her was supposed to collect it from her in Bermuda.

The suitcase was X-rayed and officers noticed a series of “anomalies” with the luggage.

Immigration officials were able to open the suitcase with the default lock combination and found 40 heat-sealed bags containing 17,779 grams of cannabis with a street value of up to $1,777,900.

When cautioned, she told the officers: “I guess I trusted the wrong person.”

Mr Duncan said the offence was very serious, particularly given the quantity of drugs discovered and that the starting point for such an offence was eight years.

However, he said that the defendant was entitled to a significant discount because of the assistance she had provided.

Charles Richardson, counsel for Faiazza, also noted that the defendant was a young woman with a previously clean record.

He said she had made a “careless mistake” in bringing the suitcase to Bermuda, but did not know its contents when she agreed to do so.

“She would be a clueless mule,” Mr Richardson said. “She was used by those who packed the bag and gave her very little information.”

Faiazza told the court that she was immensely apologetic and wanted to do whatever she could to give back and prevent others from finding themselves in the same position.

She told her family: “This is no reflection on any of you.

“You are really amazing and beautiful people and I don’t want these actions to be a reflection on you because it’s not.”

Mr Justice Wolffe said there was no doubt the defendant’s actions were “extremely egregious”.

“Being a part of an offence which had the potential of putting drugs on to the streets of Bermuda is reprehensible,” he said.

“A very clear message must be sent to those who decide to import drugs into Bermuda that they will be treated harshly by these courts.

“Having said this, I am obliged to take into consideration the level of amends that the defendant has taken to right her wrongs.

“The courts have given significant consideration to offenders that provide assistance post offence.”

Mr Justice Wolffe said drugs had torn the fabric of Bermuda apart and any assistance given that could help to prevent further harm should be acknowledged.

“We are presently in an environment where most defendants do not make amends and therefore they do not provide any assistance to the authorities,” he said.

“Therefore, those who do and are entitled to should receive a discount as mandated by law.

“Such assistance ultimately helps the community at large and may go a long way to stamping out criminality in Bermuda and, in this case, stamp out the importation of drugs into Bermuda.”

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