By Alric Lindsay
42-year-old Nazar Vincent, a real estate developer on his first visit to the Cayman Islands making a fact-finding trip to check out the real estate market, pleaded guilty today, December 24, 2024, to the importation of 10 gummies containing 50 milligrammes of cannabinol derivatives in the form of gummies and six pre-rolled cigarettes containing an unspecified amount of ganja. He received an unconditional discharge, and no conviction was recorded. However, he was fined $1,100.
Background
According to Crown Counsel Kenneth Ferguson, Vincent arrived at the Owen Roberts International Airport on Friday, December 20, 2024, on an American Airlines flight from Atlanta, Georgia.
While passing through the “Nothing To Declare” line, Customs & Border Control officers had reason to search his luggage.
A container of 10 THC gummies was discovered in his backpack marked “deep sleep cannabis-infused gummies.”
Additionally, a small packet containing six pre-rolled ganja cigarettes or spliffs was found by CBC officers.
Nazar was arrested and interviewed under caution when he accepted that the items were his.
Sentencing
In the Summary Court, Nazar’s court-appointed attorney, John Furniss, explained that Nazar used the gummies to help him sleep. It was noted that gummies were legal in his home state.
Regarding the spliffs, Nazar said that a spine institute in Miami recommended hard drugs, however, he did not wish to utilize them for pain he experienced in connection with his back surgery. Instead, he researched and found a specific strain of cannabis that might be helpful for him.
Nazar added:
So this is not like just buy it get high and go to Cayman Islands. That’s not me. I’m not responsible. Last project we just finished was a $95 million project in Massachusetts. I go through under harsh review of banks. This is not something I could be just getting high walking around.
In the circumstances, Nazar’s attorney requested that no conviction be recorded against Nazar.
After hearing from Crown Counsel and defence counsel, the Chief Magistrate found that there were extenuating circumstances. Accordingly, Nazar received an unconditional discharge with no conviction recorded. Nazar was ordered to pay a fine of $1,100 before his passport could be returned.
