Marijuana farmer slapped with half-million-dollar fine

Forty-five-year-old Anthony “Met” Luke of Mahaut has been asked to pay almost half a million dollars in fines forthwith or he will spend up to three years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to six charges relating to the cultivation and possession of cannabis, firearms and ammunition yesterday at a magistrates’ court.

Luke, a farmer who operates in the Layou Park area, was intercepted by police on Saturday, December 18, 2010, and with a warrant the lawmen searched his premises and discovered several rounds of live ammunition and spent shells of different calibers of weapons, namely two 9 mm, a .357 pistol and a 12-gauge shot gun were found.

Luke was also charged and convicted for the cultivation of marijuana in the heights of St. Joseph where over 2,200 cannabis trees were uprooted. Luke has three houses on his five-acre property. Some drugs were also found in the attic of one of his houses. The total weight of drugs found was 360 pounds.

He was sentenced to pay $450,000 forthwith for the cultivation of cannabis or two years and six months in prison. There was no separate penalty for the possession of cannabis.

He was also fined $3,000 on each of the three firearm convictions with a default jail sentence of six months for each sentence. These charges include the possession of 13 rounds of 12 gauge ammunition, and two rounds of live 9 mm ammunition. He was also fined $500 for the intent to supply or he will spend one month in prison.

He was represented by Counsel Darius Jones. Magistrate Candia George presided over the matter.

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73 Comments

  1. Water Water
    August 8, 2018

    Do these cases go through the Supreme Eastern Caribbean COURT or are they only held at the Magistrates Court? IS DAT!

  2. Water Water
    August 8, 2018

    why are Dominicans being charged with cannabis and the rest of the OECS country legalized cannabis or have reformation laws to allow you to possess cannabis? Stop taking advantage of the Dominican public and stop using the law for an escape goat to persecute people without a reason.

  3. Anonymous
    June 29, 2011

    Dominica please wake up brother BOB said you cannot stop the tide, it is a natural plant the bible said of thise herb thou shall use for meat smoke it bake it chew it, a fertile land like D.A the police cant stop it you gonna filled the prison with petty criminals growing the herb, while the murderers, and thieves walk free,stop the nonsense man, and legalized the herb it”s good for asthma, glucoma the flu , and even neumothrombosis, .

  4. Justice Needed
    January 2, 2011

    This is soooo rediculous. People are killing people in dominica every day and are going free with a 50,000.00 bail but for trying to overcome the current economic ression a man is fined 450,000.00? How is this justice. I think the magistrates need to actually pay closer attention to the murders and serving justice there.

  5. conscious citizen
    December 28, 2010

    excepting the police have done their job correctly and within the law, we now need evidence. Evidence which has been collected during their investigations. How is it possible that a judge can set a bail amount of $450,000.00 to a farmer on the face of it who does not even have no assets of that value. nor ability to pay such a large bail amount. is she worried that he will fly off in a private liat jet?

  6. Dominican abroad
    December 26, 2010

    iTS True that marijuana is a herb .many of you believe that d man planting for survival,so why didn’t he choose to do agriculture to sell food to other countries which is legal, hence helping to feed peolpie .Selling marijuana is illegal and it destroys our young generation .Do you feel good seeing our girls and boys walking crazy on d street.It tears my heart apart,Note well that most of the murders are drug related .they steal to buy drugs,they gamble to get money to buy drugs,Please donot support adrug action..Adrug man is a criminal .They keep guns in their possession with an intent to kill any one vho disturbs their drugs and f ail to pay them for their drugs.The justice system is to lenient with these people.We right now have a magistrate from Dominica and she d people respecting her.People scared of going to her court .In other words i want to say that she is cleaning up d country and am proud to be aDominican.

    • Dominican abroad #2
      December 28, 2010

      PLEASE GET YOURSELF EDUCATED BEFORE YOU POST YOUR OPINIONS!!!
      All the young people that you see on the streets walking looking crazy, referred to as ‘parros’, are not taking marijuana – they are on something much worse called CRACK / COCAINE.
      When you have read up on the many uses of marijuana apart from personal consumption and find people who actually use the herb either casually or medicinally, you will overstand that using the herb does not get you hooked like those other processed drugs.
      Then and only then you can share a more informed opinion on the subject.

      Yes it unfortunately is illegal – the story behind that is too long for here – so people should be careful not to break the law. We need to legalize it in Dominica – the nature island of the Caribbean… think of all the tourists we will get after that!

  7. haitianbabes
    December 23, 2010

    i have no sympathy for drug users,sellers or planters. i believe is high time they start giving the maximum instead of the minimum for such crimes, if they knew it was fifteen(15)years, they would think twice, i believe they wanted the man to go to jail so they put that fine knowing well he would not pay it(i have no problem with him going to jail)the sad thing about it, he just might be in there and still running his business, if they know is big jail, they will start thinking, but the amount of money they can make, is worth the risk, and even if they are caught, just a little three year sentence, and it going day and night, and good behaviour too, so who know the man might well be out by next christmas. them man doh mind the jail, is for a short time, they doh even worry with the police, while dem police bursting their souls away, they doh fraid, because even if they are caught is small jail, but making the big money is worth the risk. START GIVING THE MAXIMUM JAIL TIME.

  8. sacafete
    December 23, 2010

    Is the justice system not concerned if that man can come up with that money? you know this money cannot be wirtdrawn from the bank just like that. Why don”t they check his bank balance?

    Some months back they gave a guy from Caibishi the same choice except his fine was much higher.
    Did that guy pay that money and if so how. Again why are they not going after this guys bank accounts
    Just a thought

  9. mac
    December 23, 2010

    You must expect that, they coke and crack cant sell if there is weed about, that is just stop others from planting and become shatters for their coke

  10. Hezzy
    December 23, 2010

    I eh done yet you know! Set the man free! ok, and you Mr Skeritt all them plan tickets you send for plp to vote for you there, well let me tell you check your records ok, most of them was his family. now it your turn to scratch our backs ok. It will not be hard to do cause he is a first time ofender. Set him free!

  11. marzhie alone
    December 23, 2010

    STRANGE ALWAYS WEED ALONE…….THEM POLICE GETTING …….I CYANT UNDERSTAND……….NO COCCAINE……..STARNGE HMMMP? WOW

  12. thickerz
    December 23, 2010

    take ur jail my padna time to pass fast. half a million yes I!!!!!!!

  13. LEGALIZE IT
    December 23, 2010

    I Agree, LEGALIZE it, LEGALIZE it, LEGALIZE it, LEGALIZE it…… .. ..>>

  14. Johnson Dubois
    December 23, 2010

    LEGALIZE MARIJUANA …..NOW!

    Marijuana users in this country need to start a petition right now. This witch hunt has gone out of hand. This is outrageous!

  15. Lizavier4Jesus
    December 23, 2010

    The terms of judgment in Dominica does not make much sense though. They are either giving guilty people their freedom or they are coming up with fines and jail terms that is so weak.

    I mean who is so foolish not to choose to spend 3 years in jail, instead of paying a fine of $450,000.00? And why is the justice system in Dominica always coming up with a verdict of choice for the defendant. It is like asking people to choose the punishment that will not hurt as much as the other one. It is more like people are not being punished by the justice system at all.

    $450,000.00 is an absurd some of money for nurturing a herb, of the ground, as given to mankind by the Creator, Himself. But the judgment, of do this or do that, is a silly habit of the justice system in Dominica. Do they actually think the man will bring them a cheque, for half a million dollars, instead of sitting in jail, where he won’t have to worry about a place to sleep and his daily meals, for just threee years?

    Time flies by like a piece of paper in the wind; and $450,000.00 is way too much to protect the reputation of nurturing marijuana plants. Who will look down at the man for that? I wouldn’t!

    Marijuana nurturing is no sin before God Almighty; but murder, false witnessing, hatred, and warmongering is. Those are the conducts that needs to be treated harshly. My family remains the victim of a brutal murder. Those charged with this murder are walking through a kind of freedom, which has given them the right to label us as “haters”

    • mr. wung futin
      December 23, 2010

      AMEN to YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE. NOW THAT IS GODSPEL I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE REALIGIOUS LEADERS “TAKE” ON THAT;

  16. hmmmmm
    December 23, 2010

    Trust me if it was me i would take the jail..not paying no dumb justice system all dat money… imagine attic in dominica.We hardly seee houses wit attic ..i really want see that one.. lol

  17. naturelover
    December 23, 2010

    Since the sentences are not consistent it really creates room for perceived subjectivity—-know it is wrong but other factors can be taken into account—the man contribution as a faRMER FOR ALL THESE YEARS,HIS FIRST OFFENCE,HIS FAMILY AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIS FARM IF HE GOES TO JAIL—–COCAINE IS MORE OF A THREAT -SO FOCUS ON THAT

  18. Just and observer
    December 22, 2010

    I am always amaze by the stiff cash penalty placed on guys for possession of drugs, the little pittance charged for someone to cut up someone. I guess a life is worth less than ganja in D/ca. 450grands or 2+yrs in jai? hmmm. How many people can make that kind of money in that little time by working? Those two alternatives are not on par.

  19. citizen
    December 22, 2010

    i would tell him take the jail and save his money and come from the jail fat, the money he going to pay it will be waiting for him. Jah run tings :lol:

  20. afraid
    December 22, 2010

    boy make yr sister call skeritt just like Isidore or make vanoulst accompany u to court

  21. marv
    December 22, 2010

    Anything that have to do with drugs should be taken very seriously. Living in shack houses can be a cover up. This marijuana will be sold to our young people, and some of them will get hooked on it. After marijuana, then they will look for stronger drugs. It is a drug, it doesn’t matter how poor a person is, this is not the solution, because in the mean time some other person life will be destroyed on you trying to survive.

    The fine is too little, it should be two million, send a lesson to the people who sells any kind of substances, and the prison term should be ten years. People would take a lesson from that. He will be able to pay half the million. As for the guns, people who sells drugs keep guns. Stop making excuses for this man.

    • Anonymous
      December 23, 2010

      hooked on ganga!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: thats funny

  22. the truth
    December 22, 2010

    so half a million for weed n freeness for crack cocaine dealers? wow

    • dominica queen
      December 25, 2010

      And those murderers are walking the streets. The people who lost a loved one as a result of murder was never awarded half a million dollars while the murderer is set free. Everyone in Dominica knows who sells and traffic cocaine. How comes they not getting them. I don’t condone drugs. However, what is good for the goose should be good for the gander.

  23. Freedom..
    December 22, 2010

    Guess these caka police in Dominica.have nothing to do.So when they get a little tip about something they jump in there buggy, and go hunt. they just want to be in the news, one of these days we will see them on You Tube blazing their joint, poepoe smoke weed too..and lets see who is gonna make them pay that quarter million $. of will they face the jail?

    La prison n’est pas pour les animaux..

    Go to jail rent your three mansions…maybe you need some well deserved rest..and come back fat..and look them in the face and smile..cause you can still plant your ganger.

    All shall eat…

  24. only
    December 22, 2010

    How ridiculous!

  25. gaynproud
    December 22, 2010

    looking at the sentence and reading the story I am disappointed. I would think that the charge of firearms would have the bulk of the charges but in fact it was the weed. Not that I agree with weed but I would think that would be the lesser of the charges.

  26. D BROWN
    December 22, 2010

    IT IS THE KING OF THE FOREST BABYLON DON’T LIKE THAT SOMETIME I BAKE IT SOMETIME I STEW IT .

  27. President.
    December 22, 2010

    I May sound rather arrogant. food for thought. Have you ever ask your self the question why is Weed illegal, and cigaretted and alcohol isn’t. It cannot be denied that alcohol and cigarette contributes widely to dysfunctional family, health compliactions and all the ills that affects our society today, however it is not banned.Why because the United stated say so. The US invest so much cash and revenue into the drug trade. (Coast guard for example). however Weed is legal in some state in the US, and even holland. hmmmm. I am not in favour the use of weed. but if alcohol and cigarettes is legal , weed should get a fear chance. To my opinion i believe the US is scared that weed would affect there economy and small developing states would gain too much from the product. Just my opinion.

  28. coyote
    December 22, 2010

    jah bless. babylon can never stop de rasta.hold tight met.

  29. Kubuli Kountry
    December 22, 2010

    Do they read the laws in Dominica upside down?

  30. ABDULL BAYOBOIS
    December 22, 2010

    WELL THAT CASE WAS DEALT WITH SWIFTLY, I WONDER IF SKERRIT OR ISIDORE CASE WILL MOVE THAT FAST.

  31. Lord help Us!
    December 22, 2010

    The part about 3 houses is misleading.. making him sound like some successful drug dealer… is 3 little shacks the man have on his land.

    I don’t support people doing things that are against the law, however its sad that the law applies to some and not all. Recently there has been; murder, rape, attempted murder, political misconduct … etc and we have seen most of those men get away FREE. In my opinion… the man who plants marijuana for a living should be set free and the real criminals should be punished – that is based on the way things are.

    This country is shit!!! Bullshit!!!! thats all there is in this country.

    Who can bribe their way to freedom wins who cant sucks salt.

    • miss dee
      December 23, 2010

      in total agreement wit you….

  32. Maysyay
    December 22, 2010

    Mister not esy

  33. mr. wung futin
    December 22, 2010

    death to agriculture ganja”” Rise to Tourism, CRACK and COCAINE. :wink: :oops:
    IT happen right here again put your own meaning but doe call me :-P :-P

  34. yaz
    December 22, 2010

    putting ppl in jail is an easy solution.. why dont they create avenues for ppl to better there self so they cud find a real job and not have to sell drugs and hold iron? .. but all the dummy keep rejocing in their comments, i dont get your vybe (maybe u have alot but some of us dont)

  35. Hezzy
    December 22, 2010

    Just bal bal all you mouth, the only activity these guns were invloved in was killing Agoti’s. If u hold a man with a gun first thing u have to do is check if the guns were involved in criminal activities. That dus really vex me, i also smell a rat. Frustration from cannot buy sugar that cause that, all u think it easy no education no trade cannot read and write? And all u have the audacity to tell plp he have 3 houses on his property? What is the definition of a house? Talking about attic. Papa what is an attic? a piece of wood laying under your galvanize? De man try a thing it duh work let de man go. i say set him free eh. Duh come dere and protray the man like a money man 3 houses plenty land. Deceitful information from the policemen. The jury need to go see the 3 house that he own.

  36. yout
    December 22, 2010

    the white collar criminals they have to take action againsts…all the high officials in the public service taking cutbacks for corrupt acts!!! they’re the ones!! not the poor ganja farmer.GET THE CAVALRY AT THE TOP!!!!!

  37. Hezzy
    December 22, 2010

    The Man Father die and leave the guns, y you all did not get the guns after his death? This man was a Banana farmer all his life, with no education and no money in farming what u think they would do? Why should somebody go to jail for a tree? And how on earth u came up with those numbers? People killing people and go free, but the poor man you all want his last hair on his head or his freedom. Did you all beat him up yo say the 2200 plants was his? Was the plants on him? Was it on his property? Talking bout three houses on his property, y cant u say 3 shacks? This is a stuggling soldier. First time offender set him free! When Jah come u all will tell him y you all keep destroying all his trees. :twisted: plp

  38. Anonymous
    December 22, 2010

    mr shud go by dyer ….

    sot

    • darnit
      December 22, 2010

      best he had do that true.

  39. WOW
    December 22, 2010

    WOW these drug dealers know they always have an option to pay up OR face jail. Plus if he has the assets mentioned paying up is a joke for him, thus the reason of him pleading guilty. I am hoping that the laws against drugs and firearms will at some point be reviewed and made tougher to send the message that it will not be tolerated.

    • hmm
      December 22, 2010

      including alcohol and tobacco there needs to be tough laws against those too.

  40. Piper
    December 22, 2010

    Boy, one thing is certain, nobody can accuse Dominica of delaying justice. When does the defence get the time to prepare a proper defence when, within 3 days of a charge the matter is brought to court?

    • commentator
      December 22, 2010

      Because he copped a guilty plea? The matter can be heard swiftly. Otherwise he would be fined much more with costs etc and may get an additional jail sentence despite the fine?
      His lawyer does not have to prepare a defence and will be cheaper.
      Got that?

  41. bnm
    December 22, 2010

    i hate it alot good they put him in jail

    • Mahaut jammet living abroad
      December 23, 2010

      do you hate it or him that is a strong word to use. bnm stop being selfish

    • MET NIECE TRACI FROM MAHAUT
      December 28, 2010

      :TO ALL YOU HATERS OUT THERE SAY WAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY WE ARE NOT BOTHERED..WE ARE HIS FAMILY AND WE ARE PROUD OF HIM THOUGH MATTER WHAT….MY UNCLE DIDNT HAVE NO GUN THE POLICE SHOULD BE HONEST…AND TO ALL YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE LIEVING NEGATIVE TALK THE WORLD ID ROUND DONT SHOUT HORRAY YOU WILL BE SO SUPRISE WATS NEXT…….IF YOU GUYS WERE EDUCATED YOU WOULD HAVE READ THE CHARGES THEY PUT UP THERE..THEY CHARGE HIM LESS FOR THE BULLETS THEY GOT..WAT MESSAGE IS THAT…..TO US???????COME ON PEOPLE….STOP THIS…MY UNCLE IS ARE GOOD MAN….SAY WAT ALL YOU WANT .YOU GUYS ARE TYPICAL DOMINICANS

  42. hard cure da
    December 22, 2010

    yow the ammunition that the court talking about don’t belong to the man, my grand father always have his license fire arm which is the 12 guarge short gun now he died the license pass over to my brother so why is that the court charging the man for that a soon as i reach Dominica i am going to a lawyer.

    • Jepter
      December 22, 2010

      JACK#####, is he the holder of a firearm license?

      • Anonymous
        December 27, 2010

        donkey he is not but the holder is pat of the estate.

  43. stupse
    December 22, 2010

    pay almost half a million dollars in fines forthwith or he will spend up to three years and six months in prison >>.
    so wait a while if he comes up with the cash no jail ??
    i thought we were cracking down on illegal fire arms etc…
    and i mean come on, he had 2200 tress and 3 houses, paying half a million is joke to stay away from prison…..

    • Jepter
      December 22, 2010

      thus the forthwith. if he comes up with the money by the day’s end, he will face the FCU

    • Mahaut jammet living abroad
      December 23, 2010

      i would go to jail instead 450,000 plus 9,000 that is 459,000 you cant make that much money in a 1 and a half which is the amount of time he is going to do so … it go to jail instead we will be right here waiting for you boy

  44. Smoove
    December 22, 2010

    Come on the justice system is just way too lax on these men…Penalty being either pay or spend time in prison..Pure nonsense..
    The biggest crimminals i seeing right now are those who are part of the justice system. They always there to levy a fee onto those who are caught. All they are doing is encouraging the drug trade, encourgaing them man to sell more drugs just to pay fine after fine after fine.
    And you get a gun on the man with ammunition and all you doing is fine the man/? that not pure bullshit. give the man 7-9 yrs mandatory sentence upon conviction. I’m sure that would make man think twice about having illegal weapons in their possession. come on pple we need to do better than that.

    • Piper
      December 22, 2010

      The sentencing guidelines are more along the lines of a tax collection agency. There is really no deterent for dealing drugs.

      If I was a drug dealer, I would set aside about $1 million in case I got caught dealing. To me that is just the cost of doing business.

      • get real
        December 22, 2010

        OK papa… i second that wee! :lol:

  45. true dat
    December 22, 2010

    What??

    Me, I holding my money and taking the three year eh. :wink:

    • Anonymous
      December 22, 2010

      He will still have to pay the fine after he serves the three year sentence luv. Jail time does not extinguish the debt and that is the mistake most people make.

      • Payup or Jail time
        December 22, 2010

        His sentence is one or the other. Pay up or go to jail. So if he goes to jail he has nothing to pay.

        • Mahaut jammet living abroad
          December 23, 2010

          exactly these were the options

      • Jepter
        December 22, 2010

        Please note that he has not fined in a civil matter and it therefore means that he will owe the state nothing upon his release, as he was given two options. either or

  46. oleghost
    December 22, 2010

    poor weed man that alone the law 4 kill man u free rape u free steal money u free weed half a million dollars the thing dat has more hard work searchin for a life 4 ur self children to feed but is half a million dollars poor the hard working weed man who jah bless no man curse

  47. Huh???
    December 22, 2010

    WTF??? If only the law was being so harsh on all the criminals eh!! Murderers, cocaine dealers,gunmen all walking around like big shots!!!

    • Is that so?
      December 22, 2010

      I agree!! It would seem that marijuana possession is attracting the toughest sentences these days (even harsher than muder and child molestation). this issue needs to be addressed by our courts and laws.

      LET ME SAY UPFRONT THAT I DO NOT SMOKE AND DO NOT CONDONE MARIJUANA USE, however this is getting ridiculous. This herb is a NATURALLY GROWING PLANT and the time has come where a serious, open, intellectual debate MUST be convened re the legalization of marijuana.

      In California both the Governor and lawmakers are moving swiftly to legalize the drug so that they can collect much-needed taxes on it. We need to be proactive and NOT wait until the white man in America make the first move before we do. (remember tobacco and alcohol were illegal sometime back?) Now who are the ones reaping the benefits from the legalization of these drugs? Food for thought!!

  48. EBEN
    December 22, 2010

    Look up and see if he has a rap sheet, i am positive its no , and if its is yes its minor issues,….GO after the REAL criminals…leave the ganga farmers alone!

    • lol lol
      December 22, 2010

      I second that people that kill they do have to pay that but is always the weed man they seeing. One day people have to see that police force go down the drain

    • true da
      December 22, 2010

      so true…..

    • The Natural Truth
      December 22, 2010

      Okay Eben, I got you. Cool. I support that.
      Is firearms amd ammunition used to cultivate and fertilze ganga. Be mindful of the violence and distruction as its side effects.

      • mr. wung futin
        December 22, 2010

        no ;but is it needed to asked some one a question?

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