Tourist Fined & No Conviction Recorded After Importing Ganja & Vapes
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By Alric Lindsay
A private investigator visiting the Cayman Islands as a tourist was granted an absolute discharge after being caught importing controlled drugs in the form of three cannabis vapes containing THC and Ganja. Notwithstanding the absolute discharge, the man, identified as “Mr McCrae”, was fined $3,000 in costs, which he must pay within 24 hours.
According to Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the man arrived in the Cayman Islands on May 27, 2026, on a United Airlines flight from Houston.
Reportedly, he was asked to complete a customs declaration card, which he and his companion did together. The man did not declare anything on the form and originally ticked “no” in answer to the question whether they had any control drugs or prescribed medicine. (The customs declaration form became a point of discussion in court. Reportedly, the form was marked “no” regarding controlled substances, but this was later corrected to “yes.”.) Reportedly, the man’s partner filled out the form, and he had signed it without reading.
After being questioned, the Customs & Border Control Officers discovered the drugs. They found three vapes containing Delta-9 THC, Delta-8 THC, CBN, CBG, and CBD, along with 0.46 grams of Ganja.
Speaking on his behalf, the man’s attorney said he legally obtained the items in California for personal use, specifically to manage anxiety and pain. The vapes were accidentally left in his toiletry bag after his California trip and packed in a rush before his trip to the Cayman Islands. In any event, the man reportedly believed that Cannabis was legal in the Cayman Islands after confirming the same from research using AI.
His lawyer emphasized his background as a licensed private investigator, his early guilty plea, and his genuine remorse. She added that a conviction would have severe personal and professional consequences, including the risk of job loss due to the need for a clean police clearance. In the circumstances, she asked that the court give her client an absolute discharge and that no conviction be recorded.
The Chief Magistrate accepted that there was no intent to mislead CBC officers with the customs declaration form and that both culpability and harm were low given the small quantity and personal use. The Chief Magistrate ultimately granted the man an absolute discharge. This means no conviction will be recorded against him, preserving his professional standing.
However, the discharge came with a significant financial penalty. He was ordered to pay $3,000 in costs to the Crown within 24 hours, or serve three months in jail. His passport was held and would only be released upon payment. The drugs were ordered forfeited and destroyed.
