A Vincentian national found guilty on drug-related charges, has been ordered to pay a total of $63,000 in fines, failing which he can expect to spend more than two years in jail.
Irwin Miller, who had pleaded guilty to five offenses at a previous hearing, was sentenced by Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste on Thursday morning.
The case dealt with a recent drug bust at Soufriere.
On the count of possession of cannabis, Miller was asked to pay $5,000 or spend nine months in jail.
For the possession and intent to supply the 22 pounds of cannabis he was intercepted with on January 6, the Vincentian was fined $20,000 – he was given the option of spending 11 months in jail if he does not pay that fine.
For the importation of cannabis charge he was fined $35,000 to be paid immediately – nonpayment carries a one year in prison sentence.
A $3000 fine was also imposed on Miller for entering the island illegally. That fine too has a jail-term component if it fine is not paid.
The court heard that Miller had been spotted via night vision goggles by the drug squad and Police Marine Unit on a boat coming from Martinique at about 1:30 a.m. When the vessel came closer to shore, another individual was seen on board.
According to police, when the vessel arrived at Soufriere, the two men got off and took a nylon bag which contained cannabis. They then met with another individual with a bus in the area.
When confronted, Miller told police that he was suffering from a wound and was in pain and bleeding. He was admitted at the Alford Ward for a few days under police watch.
Upon being questioned Miller told police, “I just bring that down from St Vincent.”
When asked for travel documents, Miller said he had left the island without them.
He had been charged jointly with Yohan Flynn of Bath Road, Gerald Germain of Bath Estate, John Sylvester of Lagon Portsmouth and Craig Cochrane of Kingshill.
All five were also charged with conspiracy to import cannabis, an indictable offense which did not require a plea. This will be heard at the high court in front of a jury.
The other defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
BRO,GO CHILL FOR A WHILE, DONT YOU GIVE UP 63 GRAN, YOU WILL BE FAT WHEN YOU GET OUT !!!!
so i’m understanding this righ, the court expects him to pay the fine of $60k+. Well
doesn’t that contradict everything that the judicial system is trying to stop. Come on people there’s no way legally he made that money and instead of trying to further investigate the banking system who is harboring his money and put a stop to all this nonsense. All accounts of excess of $10k in Dominica should be investigated and all business showing lucrative profits should also be in the same pool. I don’t know how something that seem so simple as an outsider looking in would be easy to investigate and let the people know that the authorities mean business.
It’s not fair how they can grow some nice BUDS in California and we cannot grow it in Dominica.
To think of the things the planning to legalize….hmmm.
Sixty three thousand dollars or 0ne year jail,given that option I advise the Vincy national to take the jail,if the Govt cannot see the falacy of jailing someone for a recreational drug like cannabis my advice, take a vacation at stock farm and let the tax payers provide you with three square meals a day plus free lodging rent free
indeed, stupid really is as stupid does
is atill more weed he have to go and sell to pay ..so wat,,,
boy take the jail…….
I DO NOT CONDONE DRUGS IN ANY WAY; BUT I MUST POINT OUT THAT THIS YOUNG MAN FROM ST VINCENT SURELY BECAME FRIENDLY TO OUR OWN NATIONAL ( IN MEAN DOMINICAN BOYS) THAT IS WHAT LED HIM TO COME DOWN TO DOMINICA TO DO HIS TRAFFIC…BUT YET IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE DOMINICAN GOV’T ENCOURAGES MURDER BY SHOWING LITTLE VALUE TO THE MURDERED VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY LETTING OUT ALMOST EVERY MURDERER AND INSTEAD THEY ARREST BOYS FOR MARIJUANA WHICH DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE BECAUSE IT IS A CHOICE WHICH IS LEFT TO EVERY ONE OF US TO BUY OR USE DRUGS.
SEND HIM BACK TO HIS COUNTRY INSTEAD OF WASTING THE TAX PAYERS MONEY…HE IS NOT A MURDERER .MARIJUANA USAGE IS NOT DANGEROUS AS RUM WHICH IS SOLD IN EVERY SHOP AND NOW EVEN BY THE ROAD SIDE;BUT THE GOV’T GETS A LOT OF MONEY FROM SHOPKEEPERS FOR SELLING RUM TO ANY ONE EVEN THE MINORS SO GOV’T ALSO CONDONE TO THE DOWN FALL OF OUR YOUTHS.
WHO FEELS IT KNOW IT DOMINICA DO’NT HAVE ANYTHING GOOD TO OFFER LIKE IN THE DAYS OF OUR PARENTS IF GOV’T CANNOT HELP TO SUPPLY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WHO ELSE WILL DO IT FOR YOU?
YOUNG MAN I KNOW IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO READ THIS BUT EVERY MAN WHO IS HELD FOR MARIJUANA SHOULD GO TO PRISON INSTEAD OF PAYING SUCH A BIG SUM OF MONEY TO GOV’T WHILE MURDERERS WALK FREELY ON THE STREETS IN DOMINICA.UNLESS GOV’T IS NOT PUTTING ALL USELESS MURDERERS BEHIND BARS AND THE CORRUPTED POLITICIANS WHO ALWAYS PROMISE ALL THE TIME JUST TO BE IN POWER FOR MONEY DO’NT GIVE UP.DO NOT PAY GOV’T MONEY FOR MARIJUANA…I WILL REPEAT THAT I DO NOT CONDONE DRUGS BUT MARIJUANA IS LISTED AS A DRUG FOR GOV’T BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE SELLERS MONEY IN ORDER TO GET THEIR SHARE.
why dont mment investigate who owned the vehicle at loubiere
Stupes dominicans I hope allu doe hav famliy does nt doe drugs allu talkin bout time for dem man to stp brin in drugs all of u with bzness is d drug money allu does gt in a bzness plz dominica all ready hard no job for dem young boys an grlz wat u want dem to go an do again na
STUPES ARE YOU READING WHAT U WRITE, ARE YOU OK
Weed is tabou, coke is king. Dat’s how corrupt police make their money by pressuring weed till ppl have to go to Vincy to get it, while they police benefiting big time from cocaine(I feel certain they found a small paper bag of coke)…..that’s why they doe find no coke and the island flooded with coke and crack?? Ask your selves that.
SEND HIM TO THE MR DOMINICA SHOW!!
THE SCYAMP
He also entered the country illegally. Two years or more? I do think that ten years to begin with would be appropriate if he does not pay the thousands of dollars fine. He asked for it. Consider how much he stood to gain for transporting it if he was not caught.
i hope god punish that judge for finding a man money or sending him in jail for weed SOUJ
Good, we welcome other nationals to our lovely Island but if is to poison our people by peddling drugs we have enough on our account already again another example of giving offenders a slap on the hand. I know some body might say that`s what our laws dictates, I say change the laws increase the penalty to send a strong message to all those thinking of cominig to our shores with their poison.
Great Job, its about time DA law gets tougher
allu need 2 slap his **** back 2 St.Vincent.
Only $3000.00 for illigal entry into the Island? Come on!!!!
Are you freaking kidding me? WHat about jail time plus a fine! The laws & the judiciary need to be reexamined!
boss you doh get enough….you should a ….
see u soon cuzzo
hol him up
ah my cuz u told me u going to D.A for a better life and so u end up..ah ma cuz. take care ok and remember to bring what u promise me.
The economy is so bad the even WEED has to be imported.
you all will learn……
This is a scary looking individual, how did he make it to Dominica?
You’re stuuuupid
That is it Madam Chief Mmagistrate.I hope these are the maximum fines. It is high time we take back some ground in the society’s fight against those evil Drug Barons. They do not go ut they send impressionable young minds to the death on the high seas or prisons in some foreign lands. Most of them there not leave thier island home but convince others like Jack-ass Miller to take the journey. I hope our prison security apparatus will be able keep the Vinci in. The last time I know when a Vinci was at Stockfarmr, he made good his escape to Roseau, Scotts head and St. Lucia
Good Job-drug squad!!
Hold them,
charge them,
jail them,
AND THEN EXPORT THEM [where need be]!!
I AGREE WITH YOU GEE, AND AGAIN GOOD JOB DRUG SQUAD
Does your reporting have to mention by what means the accused was seen on his boat. I strongly believe that some amount of editing should be done with that report leaving out the part (with night vision goggles). Some credit, respect and preservation must be given to the police after an operation has been conducted, thereby informing the public of the incident.
Some of you may get upset with me for saying so, BUT IT’S MY POINT OF VIEW.
I totally agree with you. Yes we are anxious to report news but we need to be mindful that criminals are getting smarter.
Oh lord have mercy on them…have mercy on those judges
i’ll take the jail time plz!!