Two drug busts on Dream on 17 June in Bermuda

[*Wink*]

The ones that worry me the most are the guys with the ecstacy, don't think they were gonna use it on theirselves.

 

.. Will they use it on their towel animals?:p ..

 

Just kidding.. But the article did say that many of the perps had the contraband in their crotch's... That's waaaaayyy to close to the dog's nose! How stupid is that? ;)

[DocJohnB]

How stupid is that? ;)

 

Extremely! Sort of a funny story along those lines.

 

Leaving Vietnam in 1970, I processed through Freedom Hill in Danang. There, before boarding the transportation to the airport, were drug sniffing dogs. ALL troops were given an amnesty. There was a huge trash barrel and signs stating something to the effect. "If you have any illegal substance on you dump it here - no reprisals. Then the chilling words. Our dogs are good. Well, just before boarding the transportation, one had to walk past MP's with drug sniffing dogs.

 

Yep, you guessed it. One idiot decided that he was smarter than the dog. He had a sizeable plastic bag of marijuana strapped to his buttocks. He was about 4th or 5th in line ahead of me. First dog 'narc'd' him. Latched on to his buttocks and started trying to tear the bag out. MP heeled the dog, the guys fatigues are ripped and he is bleeding. Not only did he not leave the Nam that night, he probably stayed a few months more with the first couple of weeks nursing a sore butt.

[bluesea777]

.. Will they use it on their towel animals?:p ..

 

Just kidding.. But the article did say that many of the perps had the contraband in their crotch's... That's waaaaayyy to close to the dog's nose! How stupid is that? ;)

 

 

DOUBLE LAUGHTER!!!

 

 

BlueSea777 <---- still eating popcorn ....

[*Wink*]

Latched on to his buttocks and started trying to tear the bag out. MP heeled the dog, the guys fatigues are ripped and he is bleeding. Not only did he not leave the Nam that night, he probably stayed a few months more with the first couple of weeks nursing a sore butt.

 

Now that's what I call, "getting chewed a new one!"

[salty dingo]

The day it's ok to go up on deck and use drugs is the day I stop cruising. I have a ten year old- does she need to see people using drugs on our evening stroll around the deck because someone can't go without their weed for a few days?

I am very sure that if someone went on that stroll while a 10 year old was around, security would be all over them and they would be ejected from the ship at the next stop. This happens all the time. I have not seen people doing this during daylight on any cruise I have been on. I have smelled it in the halls on a cruise, but that's true of most high schools too.

 

We don't have to debate that it is way stupid to do what those folks did - I am in total agreement. However I take exception to those who say the grandfather was not a good steward to the kids. There are all shades of gray. You can easily compare that to having too many drinks - that would also constitute neglect? Or maybe taking one too many sleeping pills? I just don't think it's fair to pick on one drug. And the way the cruise lines promote alcohol... you'd think it was a sin not to drink it!

[Heat Wave]

I agree with salty dingo. The ships encourage people to get drunk out of their minds. Being that drunk has much worse consequences than a 50 year old man getting high.

The OP incorrectly stated they found large amounts of drugs...but in the newspaper article it stated the men only had a few grams of pot. The amount could be measured in just a few tablespoons, nothing even close to even a half of an ounce...hardly a large amount of marijuana.

That being said, it is not a smart idea to bring your stash on an airplane or ship.

[CanadianTwosome]

I saw a documentary the other day called 'In Pot We Trust', and I though it was a really sad commentary on how the stigma of pot being illegal has caused so much negativity towards its use. In the documentary, they followed a lobbyist who was trying to get a federal bill passed. I'm going to explain it and hopefully it won't be too confusing...

 

In some states, there are STATE laws that allow the use of cannibis for medical reasons with the prescription of a medical professional.

 

The FEDERAL bill the lobbyist was trying to get passed stated that if a person WITH A PRESCRIPTION, in a state where prescriptions are legal, is found to be in possession of cannibis, they cannot be arrested.

 

So... if I've explained that well enough, the gist of it is that people shouldn't be arrested for doing something that is legal in their state.

 

The bill was NOT passed. Why? Because even though it seems reasonable to allow people to do what they are legally allowed to do, the stigma of pot being 'evil' and 'bad' was too strong.

 

Personally, I think it's ridiculous. Alcohol is legal and cannibis isn't... has anyone checked the statistics on vechicle deaths and spousal abuse lately? It's not pot that keeps rearing its ugly head there. But, people can't see past the stigma.

 

Sure, taking the pot on a cruise ship was a bad idea. I have to say, though, I find all the references to people being stupid (for using pot - there have been references in the thread for both using and taking it on board), or being a bad influence, or acting in ways that none of us can have any knowledge of just based on assumptions about 'what pot smokers DO', really offensive. There are thread after thread after thread on here about people smuggling liquor on board and people share tips and encourage it. So... that's illegal, isn't it? Isn't that called bootlegging? I'm pretty sure taking undeclared alcohol across a border is frowned upon... so why is that okay but the discreet (because we don't know any different) use of pot is horrific?

 

I guess the problem for me is that I think the problems in our society caused by alcohol far outweigh those caused by using cannibis - especially if we remove the ones that are caused by cannibis being illegal. In this particular case, two men were detained and fined, one of them possibly having permanently damaged his relations with his family... yes, they were guilty of possession, but I'll bet on the same ship there were dozens of drunk grandparents, parents, siblings, strangers... all drinking freely in front of kids all day and night. If either of these men had actually caused any problems or issues of any kind prior to the dog sniffing out their stashes, I'm certain it would have come up in the article, but there was nothing. They weren't disturbing anyone, they weren't hurting anyone, and as far as we know, they were not using it anywhere near their families or anyone else's. But, since it's illegal, they were arrested while all the drunks were happily allowed to continue doing whatever they wanted.

 

On the first night of our last cruise, there was a group in the Spinnaker who were absolutely tanked. As we left, we saw a staff member speaking to them about the fact that they were laughing and shouting profanities. They weren't using profanity in their conversations, they were just shouting the words in the corridors (at about midnight) and then laughing about it. Why is alcohol the accepted indulgence again?

 

I want to be clear, while I may not agree with the law, I do agree that anyone who attempts to carry an illegal substance aboard a plane, ship, train, or whatever, is taking a known risk. The men in this situation knowingly took that risk and have paid for it, and I'm not arguing that point. I just think that many people here are being excessively harsh regarding their choice of indulgence.

[iheartbda]

There are thread after thread after thread on here about people smuggling liquor on board and people share tips and encourage it. So... that's illegal, isn't it? Isn't that called bootlegging? I'm pretty sure taking undeclared alcohol across a border is frowned upon... so why is that okay but the discreet (because we don't know any different) use of pot is horrific?

 

No, it's not illegal. It may be against cruise line policy but Bermuda does not prohibit alcohol.

 

http://www.bermuda-online.org/illegalimports.htm

Also illegal

Offensive and defensive weapons of any kind, like real or fake or toy firearms (guns) of any type and ammunition; any kind of weapon to deter thieves or intruders; catapults (slingshots); BB guns; cutlasses; crossbows; mace in canisters; pornographic material; throwing knives; flick knives; martial arts weaponry; nightsticks; nunchakus; spiked wristbands; swords; spear guns, all pistols, all rifles, all ammunition for them, signal guns, all other weapons and all live marine animals (including lobsters) by any private individuals. Some visitors and businesspeople apparently think it is permitted to bring firearms into Bermuda. It is not, not under any circumstances. The weapons will be seized permanently by the Bermuda Police Service and those convicted will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, publicized and reported to Federal or provincial or state authorities for illegally carrying firearms on ships or aircraft.

 

I'm not going to go into alcohol being accepted and pot not as it's very possible someone on pot is less obnoxious, may not be disturbing disturbing anyone etc. as opposed to drunks. I'm not judging anyone who uses pot.

 

Why the ones with pot were arrested and the drunks not...bottom line, it's illegal in Bermuda. Whether or not we agree or diasgree with laws in the States has no bearing on how Bermuda handles what they consider illegal substances. You may want to read the whole policy that the above quote was taken from.

 

Anything that happens in the States concerning drugs is moot when in Bermuda.

[newmexicoNita]

No, it's not illegal. It may be against cruise line policy but Bermuda does not prohibit alcohol.

 

http://www.bermuda-online.org/illegalimports.htm

Also illegal

Offensive and defensive weapons of any kind, like real or fake or toy firearms (guns) of any type and ammunition; any kind of weapon to deter thieves or intruders; catapults (slingshots); BB guns; cutlasses; crossbows; mace in canisters; pornographic material; throwing knives; flick knives; martial arts weaponry; nightsticks; nunchakus; spiked wristbands; swords; spear guns, all pistols, all rifles, all ammunition for them, signal guns, all other weapons and all live marine animals (including lobsters) by any private individuals. Some visitors and businesspeople apparently think it is permitted to bring firearms into Bermuda. It is not, not under any circumstances. The weapons will be seized permanently by the Bermuda Police Service and those convicted will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, publicized and reported to Federal or provincial or state authorities for illegally carrying firearms on ships or aircraft.

 

I'm not going to go into alcohol being accepted and pot not as it's very possible someone on pot is less obnoxious, may not be disturbing disturbing anyone etc. as opposed to drunks. I'm not judging anyone who uses pot.

 

Why the ones with pot were arrested and the drunks not...bottom line, it's illegal in Bermuda. Whether or not we agree or diasgree with laws in the States has no bearing on how Bermuda handles what they consider illegal substances. You may want to read the whole policy that the above quote was taken from.

 

Anything that happens in the States concerning drugs is moot when in Bermuda.

you know I still haven't found where it states they were only using pot. It still wouldn't change my mind, but pot isn't the same as hard drugs. Is there someplace the story says it was only weed?

 

Nita

[*Wink*]

Article #1: (I have replaced his name with Idiot #1)

 

Drugs were found in ship visitor's toiletries bag

By Mikaela Ian Pearman

A cruise ship passenger was fined $3,000 for bringing cannabis and cannabis resin into the Island.

 

Idiot #1, 51, of Rhode Island, was arrested after officers searched his cabin and found the drugs. He pleaded guilty to the charges in Magistrates' Court.

The court heard from Crown counsel Michael McColm, that the Seaport Enforcement team along with a security guard and a sniffer dog went aboard the Norwegian Dream on June 17 looking for drugs.

While the officers were on his deck, Idiot #1 opened his cabin door and the sniffer dog reacted. Officers identified themselves to the defendant and asked him if he had any drugs.

Idiot #1 said: "Yes, I have a little pot."

Officers found a small black toiletries bag in the closet containing a Ziploc bag with plant-like material, a brown substance and a homemade pipe.

Idiot #1 was arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station where it was revealed the plantlike material was 1.92 grams of the controlled drug cannabis and the brown substance was 0.10 grams of cannabis resin.

Idiot #1 apologised to the court and was fined $1,500 for each drug to be paid immediately.

 

Have you seen this article?

[TravelLisa]

Both had minimal amounts on their person according to the article. We are not talking about smugglers here, we are talking about someone who brought a joint to smoke. Not that I condone it, do you know the circumstances of why he was doing it, for fun, did he maybe have cancer/glaucoma (or however you spell it), do we know? Some of the posts do sound like these people should be drawn and quartered. Honestly I've known drinkers who were far more violent.

 

My thing is this. I'm on vacation, relaxing on a beautiful ship, and am now going to have officers and drug dogs walking the corriders looking for grandpa smoking a joint. Does this not seem weird to anyone else. I mean really, do they walk the ship everyday, hang out by the pool, enter the restaurants? I can seem them when you get on/get off the ship, but to have them "patrol" the decks seems odd to me. :confused:

[iheartbda]

I can seem them when you get on/get off the ship, but to have them "patrol" the decks seems odd to me. :confused:

 

It may seem odd to you but, once again Bermuda is strict.

 

"To avoid arrest for any type of illegal narcotics, such as but not limited to liquid ecstasy, magic mushrooms, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc. don't import them. There is a zero tolerance policy and crews of cruise ships and drug couriers are known as major importers. Locals, tourists and visitors are not given any breaks. They are expected to obey the laws of the land or pay the price."

[*Wink*]

I think it's good they don't search every ship. It would probably take a while for it to be completed. If the word is out that ships are randomly searched, it will probably result in a pretty effective deterrent.

 

Here's my take: I think the guys had smoked in their cabin at some point, and when a dog was just passing by, signaled to the cop.. it was only a matter of time before it was found.

[DocJohnB]

Not that I condone it, do you know the circumstances of why he was doing it, for fun, did he maybe have cancer/glaucoma (or however you spell it), do we know?

 

:confused:

Lisa:

 

The grandfather is quoted as saying:

"It's turned my world upside down. I may have lost my daughter and grandchildren. I take full responsibility for this. What you do to me couldn't hurt me more than I already am".

He explained he had recently been reunited with his daughter after 30 years and took her and his three grandchildren on a cruise for a vacation. He added he had been embarrassed by the whole ordeal.

He was fined $2,500 to be paid immediately.

 

Sounds to me like he had it for "fun" and not for medicinal purposes. I certainly don't think he should be drawn and quartered, but $2,500 for his actions was deemed a fit punishment by the Bermuda court system. Their land, their laws, their justice. I have no argument with it at all.

[CanadianTwosome]

No, it's not illegal. It may be against cruise line policy but Bermuda does not prohibit alcohol.

 

http://www.bermuda-online.org/illegalimports.htm

Also illegal

Offensive and defensive weapons of any kind, like real or fake or toy firearms (guns) of any type and ammunition; any kind of weapon to deter thieves or intruders; catapults (slingshots); BB guns; cutlasses; crossbows; mace in canisters; pornographic material; throwing knives; flick knives; martial arts weaponry; nightsticks; nunchakus; spiked wristbands; swords; spear guns, all pistols, all rifles, all ammunition for them, signal guns, all other weapons and all live marine animals (including lobsters) by any private individuals. Some visitors and businesspeople apparently think it is permitted to bring firearms into Bermuda. It is not, not under any circumstances. The weapons will be seized permanently by the Bermuda Police Service and those convicted will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, publicized and reported to Federal or provincial or state authorities for illegally carrying firearms on ships or aircraft.

 

I'm not going to go into alcohol being accepted and pot not as it's very possible someone on pot is less obnoxious, may not be disturbing disturbing anyone etc. as opposed to drunks. I'm not judging anyone who uses pot.

 

Why the ones with pot were arrested and the drunks not...bottom line, it's illegal in Bermuda. Whether or not we agree or diasgree with laws in the States has no bearing on how Bermuda handles what they consider illegal substances. You may want to read the whole policy that the above quote was taken from.

 

Anything that happens in the States concerning drugs is moot when in Bermuda.

 

Yeah, I'm in agreement with you - the law is the law regardless of how we feel about it. I was just trying to make a point about how harsh people seemed to be being about just having or using pot. As I said, it's a known risk - if you choose to take the risk and get caught, you have nobody to blame but yourself.

[NYFL_TRAVELER]

They should be prosecuted and NCL should ban these people from future cruises.

[bluesea777]

They should be prosecuted and NCL should ban these people from future cruises.

 

Those 2 idiots have automatically been put on stop list to Bermuda.

[LindaKE]

I hate drugs of any kind, so my question is just because my curiosity is aroused.

 

Do all ports screen for drugs? I've never noticed dogs on any of our cruises. I'd love to watch them alert to drugs. From watching drug dogs on TV, it appears to me that the dog gets pretty clase to drugs before it alerts. I never realized they could go down a hall and choose a cabin then find the drugs inside.

 

And, if the passenger left the drugs in his cabin and didn't take them off the ship, why does the port country care? I can see NCL having a problem with the presence of drugs on their ship, but, if the passenger doesn't take some with him off the ship, why the country?

[Sally Forth]

The people on the balcony next to ours smoked up every night when we did the Mexican Riviera cruise a couple of years ago. Personal feelings about the idiocy of openly doing drugs aside, I was quite intrigued by the logistics of this. How did they get the drugs from Canada to LA? Did they carry them in their luggage or find a supplier in LA?

 

Some of you might remember the story I told afterward about how the woman raided the stewards' cart for pillow chocolates when she wandered out into the hallway looking for munchies.

 

VIv

[Rapture24]

Some of you might remember the story I told afterward about how the woman raided the stewards' cart for pillow chocolates when she wandered out into the hallway looking for munchies.

 

VIv

 

that is the funniest thing ever! LOL

[*Wink*]

Oh C' Mon... Certainly you've heard of the "Cart Buffet?"

[terrymtex01]

I hate drugs of any kind, so my question is just because my curiosity is aroused.

 

Do all ports screen for drugs? I've never noticed dogs on any of our cruises. I'd love to watch them alert to drugs. From watching drug dogs on TV, it appears to me that the dog gets pretty clase to drugs before it alerts. I never realized they could go down a hall and choose a cabin then find the drugs inside.

 

And, if the passenger left the drugs in his cabin and didn't take them off the ship, why does the port country care? I can see NCL having a problem with the presence of drugs on their ship, but, if the passenger doesn't take some with him off the ship, why the country?

 

The last few years we have seen them at every port we have been in, both foreign or domestic. I am never sure if they are drug dogs or explosive sniffing dogs, but I have seen them every were. I hate it because I am such a dog lover I always want to pet and love on them. But of course that is a no no if they are actively engaged in a "search".

 

Ok.. I have a question for the group. What would happen if we go on a cruise.. and someone on a previous cruise left a stash of drugs there.. And drug sniffing dogs found them. How would we ever be able to prove they were not our drugs? Would they do blood test to prove we don't use? Of course then they could always say we were selling them.. etc.

[smeyer418]

The last few years we have seen them at every port we have been in, both foreign or domestic. I am never sure if they are drug dogs or explosive sniffing dogs, but I have seen them every were. I hate it because I am such a dog lover I always want to pet and love on them. But of course that is a no no if they are actively engaged in a "search".

 

Ok.. I have a question for the group. What would happen if we go on a cruise.. and someone on a previous cruise left a stash of drugs there.. And drug sniffing dogs found them. How would we ever be able to prove they were not our drugs? Would they do blood test to prove we don't use? Of course then they could always say we were selling them.. etc.

 

You raise an interesting problem. The normal rule if you are in possession of a room its presumed what is in the room is yours. It might depend on how well they were hidden in the room and whether you are believed or not. This is not the case here however. You can prove you haven't used drugs by blood and hair tests. But it is generally up to you to prove the negative.

[Heat Wave]

I haven't smoked pot for 20 years now. In 1985 my DW and me went on our 1st cruise. It was to the Western Caribbean. We didn't take any pot with us on the cruise and didn't expect to use any. On our 1st full day at sea we met our cabin steward. He told us he was from Jamaica. I said, I bet they have good pot in Jamaica. He said, yes they do...would you like to buy some? So he came back to our room with a small quantity of pot along with some rolling papers and an aerosol can of air freshener. I gave him $40 bucks and that was it. I don't think this was an isolated incident. I think it happens all of the time—even today. Crew members supplying passengers with marijuana.

[coka]

]Also illegal[/color][/size][/font]

Offensive and defensive weapons of any kind, like real or fake or toy firearms (guns) of any type and ammunition; any kind of weapon to deter thieves or intruders; catapults (slingshots); BB guns; cutlasses; crossbows; mace in canisters; pornographic material; throwing knives; flick knives; martial arts weaponry; nightsticks; nunchakus; spiked wristbands; swords; spear guns, all pistols, all rifles, all ammunition for them, signal guns, all other weapons and all live marine animals (including lobsters) by any private individuals. Some visitors and businesspeople apparently think it is permitted to bring firearms into Bermuda. It is not, not under any circumstances. The weapons will be seized permanently by the Bermuda Police Service and those convicted will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, publicized and reported to Federal or provincial or state authorities for illegally carrying firearms on ships or aircraft.

 

 

 

What a coincidence. We have the same rules at our high school.

 

coka