By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A 54-year-old Canadian man was sentenced to prison on Friday for smuggling almost $10,000 worth of heroin into the Bahamas from London late last year in the hope of getting more than $3m in exchange.
Magistrate Samuel McKinney sentenced Reginald Merritt to three years for smuggling the $90,000 worth of drugs into the country on December 27 with plans of being paid some $3.5m for his efforts.
Merritt was fined an additional $50,000 for his actions or face an additional year in prison.
Merritt's sentencing came a day after he pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and importation of dangerous drugs.
According to reports, around 2pm on December 27, two Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers were on duty at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) when they received certain information pertaining to British Airways flight number 253 inbound from London.
As a result, the two officers observed Merritt, who had arrived on that flight with two pieces of luggage. The officers approached and informed him that he was suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs. He was then taken into an area in the airport where a body search was conducted.
Nothing suspicious was found on Merritt’s person, however, when the officers searched his luggage, all of which had hidden compartments, they discovered six packages of heroin. The drugs weighed nine and a half pounds with an estimated value of $90,000. Merritt was consequently cautioned and arrested and taken to DEU.
When interviewed by officers the following day, Merritt said he was in communication by email with a male he only knows as Mr Hickman from Nigeria, with whom he made an agreement to collect some $3.5m. As a result, he said, arrangements were made for him to travel from Canada to Paris, France, and then to South Africa, where he collected the bags.
From there, Merritt said he was supposed to travel to London and ultimately the Bahamas where he was supposed to collect the $3.5m after handing over the suitcases and packages to someone else.
Ian Cargill represented Merritt. Inspector Philip Davis prosecuted the matter.
Comments
John 5 years, 2 months ago
So whats wrong with this story. Get it right Tribune!
Clamshell 5 years, 2 months ago
Yeah, I saw that too. Does this newspaper have editors? Would anybody read that before publication and ask, “Why do these numbers contradict one another?” Can’t somebody simply iron out or explain these baffling contradictions?
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 2 months ago
LMAO
happyfly 5 years, 2 months ago
the poor guy must have gotten suckered into one of those phishing scam emails.
"I am the ex-prime minister of the Bahamas. If you bring me $90,000 worth of heroin, I will give you $3.5m dollars"
John 5 years, 2 months ago
Marijuana is the most commonly smuggled substance into Canada. So last year Canada made marijuana fully legal across the country. Many persons travelling to that country ended up with criminal charges and many Canadians travelling abroad to places like Jamaica and Mexico found themselves in trouble when they returned to Canada with small amounts of weed. It is still illegal to take weed across the Canadian boarder, but instead of getting a criminal charge, the substance is confiscated and the traveller can go on his/her way with a warning. Makes sense?
sheeprunner12 5 years, 2 months ago
How can that amount of heroin be valued at $90,000 in The Bahamas ......... but the guy would be paid $3.5 million to smuggle it into Canada???? ........ Is heroin that valuable in Canada???? ........ or was Merritt simply an ole ass????????
How did he smuggle that heroin through airports in South Africa and England ...... and then get caught in Nassau?????????? .......... That's a head-scratcher.
Straight_Talk_Bahamas 5 years, 2 months ago
The Tribune did not get it wrong... yall simply lack comprehension. Here, I'll try: The herion was only valued at 90,000, but the gentleman was lured into carrying it because he expected to get $3.5Million when he landed in Nassau. I doubt he knew the real value of the drugs
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