Cruise ship visitor gets big fine over drugs

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC - A passenger from Massachusetts who said he brought less than an ounce of marijuana with him to ease personal pain on a cruise to Bermuda has been hit in the pocket with a US$10,000 fine after admitting importing the drug into the island.



James Butter, a 58-year-old grandfather, told Magistrates' Court he used the drugs to combat the pain of arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome in his hand.



He said the 23.45 grams of marijuana - estimated to be worth $1,150 on the streets of Bermuda - was of poor quality.



Customs and ship security found the drugs in Butter’s cabin aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn on Sunday. The liner currently sails to Bermuda weekly from Boston.



Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said the proper way to deal with the matter was with a "substantial" fine.



In a separate case, 37-year-old Philadelphia resident Kilolo McGarran was fined $1,000 by Warner after admitting importing five grams of marijuana.



Officials found the drugs on Sunday hidden in McGarran's cabin safe aboard on the Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas.



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