The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN American couple’s honeymoon in paradise was cut short when they were caught with $30 worth of marijuana last week.

Joseph Kurayev and Lily Abramo Kurayev were arrested after a police dog sniffed out six grams of Indian hemp among the couple’s belongings as they were lounging on a local beach on October 20.

The New York natives pleaded guilty to simple possession during their arraignment before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

The court was told that officers and a dog from their K-9 unit went to Cabbage Beach around 1pm on the day in question. When they arrived, they deployed the police dog, who gave indications to the Kurayevs who were seated next to a blue bag. Officers then approached the newly-wed couple and informed them that they would be searched for dangerous drugs.

During their investigation, officers found a white marijuana cigarette in one of the defendant’s hands. A further search of the couple’s blue bag also led to the discovery of a cigarette box with five more homemade marijuana cigarettes. The two were subsequently arrested and taken to the Paradise Island police station. When they were questioned there, they both admitted the offence.

During the hearing, the Kurayevs told the magistrate they were vacationing in the country for their honeymoon. They said they were “sorry” for their actions and insisted they did not realise that the laws in The Bahamas concerning the legalisation of marijuana differed from the legislation that was enforced in some American states.

After listening to their explanation, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt accepted the couple’s guilty pleas and fined them both $175 or one month at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.