Cruise Passengers Arrested in Bermuda for Drugs, Weapon

[LauraS]

Cruise Critic has just posted the following news:

Cruise Passengers Arrested in Bermuda for Drugs, Weapon

Read the entire news article... (http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3885)

[ddakrt]

Laura, something is way off in the article.

There is no way 6.68 grams of pot can be valued at $3,625. :eek:
$70-$100 is far closer to the actual value of ~7 grams of marijuana.

[BalconyGal]

People know right from wrong. If you don't want to follow the rules then You get what you get and you don't get upset.

[Cuizer2]

While some cruise passengers are having trouble getting blow dryers and power strips through security (http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3869), two reportedly managed to bring 6.68 grams of cannabis -- and a Taser gun -- aboard Enchantment of the Seas (http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=73) this week.

Great opening line. :)

The defendants were each fined $500 for drug possession, with Taylor paying an additional $1,000 for bringing the Taser gun onto the Island. Their lawyer told the Royal Gazette that the five-inch plastic stun gun -- capable of delivering 500,000 volts of electric shock -- was legally obtained in the U.S. for self defense, and that the cannabis was not brought ashore.

Bermuda has notoriously strict laws against illegal substances and weapons.

$500 for drugs and $1,000 for a weapon is considered "notoriously strict"?

[kiawahdon]

Since I doubt Carnac the Magnificent was on board, I would guess that either a traveling companion or a cabin attendant tipped off the authorities. I would bet it was a RCCL employee who went to his/her supervisor. Utilizing the Bermuda authorities to deal with the situation, keeps RCCL's hands "clean" in dealing with a messy situation.

[RHefley228]

I would bet it was a RCCL employee who went to his/her supervisor.

Moral of the story: Never remove the auto-tip.

[deepnite10]

to the tipster..good job:D

drugs and weapons have no place on
a cruise ship..

[greatam]

$500 for drugs and $1,000 for a weapon is considered "notoriously strict"?

That's pretty strict for someone from California-under an ounce-$100 fine. Under 1/4 ounce-probably just throw it away. Oh wait, California desperately needs the money-$100 fine. And didn't the President tell DEA/Feds to stay away from arresting pot users, particularly medical marijuana users??? Yes, he did. So $500pp fine for 1/4 ounce of pot is pretty strict in the context. But of course, they were not on US soil either.

Stun guns are legal to carry in most states. Most state laws DO NOT arbitrarily classify stun guns as weapons. Arizona, home of TASER, led the way in defining the law. IF a stun gun is used in the commission of a CRIME, then it becomes a WEAPON and the violator can be charged with a serious felony. Personal defense use is NOT a crime and a stun gun is NOT a weapon in that context. Why would you have a stun gun if you couldn't carry it in the USA???

Taking the pot on the ship was wrong. Taking the stun gun-IMHO, if it was off the ship on foreign soil, wrong. Taking it on the ship-???? What are you supposed to do on the WAY to the ship??? Leave yourself defenseless???? A true catch 22.

[ddakrt]

Since I doubt Carnac the Magnificent was on board, I would guess that either a traveling companion or a cabin attendant tipped off the authorities. I would bet it was a RCCL employee who went to his/her supervisor. Utilizing the Bermuda authorities to deal with the situation, keeps RCCL's hands "clean" in dealing with a messy situation.

I think it's more likely that one of their neighbours smelled the scent, maybe they were smoking on the balcony or something. I doubt someone would just leave 7 grams of weed out for their cabin steward to find.



$500 for drugs and $1,000 for a weapon is considered "notoriously strict"?
Dunno about the $1,000 fine for the taser, but the $500 fine for 7 grams of pot is incredibly strict up here in Canada. Cops up here will either make you throw it out or not do anything at all unless you act like a total jerk to them.

[Corinne Marie]

How stupid can people be???? Drugs and weapons on a cruise ship...they really deserve some jail time for this...

[melissa@cruisecritic]

Thanks for your comments on our piece! We had a feeling this story would generate some interesting conversation...

As for the cost of the drugs found, the numbers we reported were confirmed by both RCI and reports out of Bermuda. We can't really get into a discussion about whether the travelers got ripped off on the marijuana -- or the inner workings of Bermuda's legal system. But we will let you know if there are any other developements in terms of answering our other questions (how the authorities were notified and how these items got through security).

[melissa@cruisecritic]

Great opening line. :)



Thanks!

[misterjohnny]

RCL puts out a ridiculously high dollar value on the seized marijuana so that don't look foolish saying "We arrested someone for $100 worth of marijuana, that would have been ignored by most law enforcement agencies in North America." Most people wouldn't know how much 6 grams is. One gram is about the weight of a pen cap (per wikipedia).

From the headline, you'd think it was the drug cartels coming to Bermuda. LOL.

[Cuizer2]

One gram is about the weight of a pen cap (per wikipedia).

From which manufacturer? :confused:

[musc2011]

If you smoke or use illegal drugs, you will get caught ( eventually), you broke the law. I don't care who you are, where you are from or what you do, you use illegal drugs and you know it and got caught.
Commit the Crime, do the Time and pay the Fine, Simple.

[ddakrt]

If you smoke or use illegal drugs, you will get caught ( eventually), you broke the law. I don't care who you are, where you are from or what you do, you use illegal drugs and you know it and got caught.
Commit the Crime, do the Time and pay the Fine, Simple.

I don't think anyone was complaining that they got caught.

Although, I have to ask if you have ever speed when you're driving, drove through a yellow light when you have enough room to safely stop, jaywalked, or (depending where you are) spoken a swear word.

[ChucktownSteve]

In keeping with the current U.S. political climate, the bust must have been racially motivated. Therefore both the Bermuda Police and the cruise line must be racists! :rolleyes:

You think everyone should boycott the port they originally embarked from? After all if security had found the Taser and pot, they wouldn't have been ratted out in Bermuda. :D

[ejohnny]

6.8 grams for 3600 = 530 bucks a gram. wow poor college kids.

This report is funny, no i dont know about the gun, but i cant imagine sneaking in 7grams of pot would be too too hard. I havent been on a cruise yet but cant possibly imagine passengers submitting to cavity search before going on vacation. Not that you need to do that, i am sure in a sock would be enough

[Mermen]

I don't think anyone was complaining that they got caught.

Although, I have to ask if you have ever speed when you're driving, drove through a yellow light when you have enough room to safely stop, jaywalked, or (depending where you are) spoken a swear word.


My question is exactly, Kris...

[CRZCRAZY]

Stun guns are legal to carry in most states. Most state laws DO NOT arbitrarily classify stun guns as weapons. Arizona, home of TASER, led the way in defining the law. IF a stun gun is used in the commission of a CRIME, then it becomes a WEAPON and the violator can be charged with a serious felony. Personal defense use is NOT a crime and a stun gun is NOT a weapon in that context. Why would you have a stun gun if you couldn't carry it in the USA???
What most people forget is when they step foot on a cruise ship they are not in the United States. You can get turned over to US authorities, and the cruise ships cooperate with US authorities, etc. just as they do with the other countries they visit. The conditions of the contract state No weapons. I'm not sure what part of that is confusing. If you have to carry on the way to the ship, leave it in your car. If you flew to the port, you couldn't bring it onboard the plane anyway.

[Mermen]

I guess I don't understand why someone would bring a weapon anyway? Would they be planning to be involved in illegal activity while in a port, or is it to fend off bullies? If I felt that unsafe, wouldn't go on that particular cruise.

I think the only mischief I've run across was in Spain, a woman's camera was stolen, she left it on a bench and ran into a store for a drink.

But a weapon? wow...

[greatam]

If you flew to the port, you couldn't bring it onboard the plane anyway.

While you cannot take a Taser IN the plane, you most certainly can take it in your checked baggage. You don't even have to declare it or put it in a tamper proof case as you do a gun.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

[greatam]

I guess I don't understand why someone would bring a weapon anyway? Would they be planning to be involved in illegal activity while in a port, or is it to fend off bullies? If I felt that unsafe, wouldn't go on that particular cruise.

I think the only mischief I've run across was in Spain, a woman's camera was stolen, she left it on a bench and ran into a store for a drink.

But a weapon? wow...

As I posted previously, taking a Taser is a catch 22. Illegal on the ship and probably in a lot of countries. But definitely legal in most parts of the USA as long as it is not used to COMMIT a crime. Read the story again-two fairly young women who could be subjected to mugging, sexual assault or even worse. I'm sure they were thinking of their personal safety.

Here is an old article about "Taser parties". http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310821,00.html

There have recently been commercials on local TV about "taser's for women" and where to buy them. Arizona is a "right to carry" state. I have a Glock. I have handled firearms since I met DH. We live in the Arizona desert 100 miles from Phoenix. We target shoot frequently and shoot "Sporting Clays" on a competitive basis. I also bought a C-2 Taser.
I like it better than my gun. I KNOW I won't kill someone but certainly have protection for myself. Around Xmas time, in the shopping malls of Phoenix, over 150 women got mugged/robbed going to their cars, some of them seriously hurt. I don't want to be one of them. And I am sure the women in this article were thinking along the same lines. Probably never gave it consideration that it was "illegal" to take the Taser on the ship. JMHO

[CRZCRAZY]

I'll just have to make sure I don't book a cruise around Christmas to a mall in Phoenix. :D

[temple1]

RCL puts out a ridiculously high dollar value on the seized marijuana so that don't look foolish saying "We arrested someone for $100 worth of marijuana, that would have been ignored by most law enforcement agencies in North America." Most people wouldn't know how much 6 grams is. One gram is about the weight of a pen cap (per wikipedia).

From the headline, you'd think it was the drug cartels coming to Bermuda. LOL.

I don't think the article was very clear on it - but it was probably the local authorities who put the value.

I'm not commenting on the taser - I have all ideas it never occurred to them it was a problem. But it does go to show that the US is not the only country to have ridiculous drug laws.

The way some folks responded on here you would have thought they were packing heavy artillery and selling smack from their cabin. :rolleyes: